There is, as is frequently said, a thin line between genius and stupidity. Even after saying the name to yourself over and over again, it is difficult to say which side of the line a moniker like "Project Twinkle" could be found. But my money is on stupid side.

The name sounds like it should be the title of a covert military operation to storm the Bank of Toytown.

Little Stars:

The reality, however, is quite different. Project Twinkle is a "collective of musicians" founded by the ex-Ampersand bassist Stuart Smith that appears to be named after A highly secret study into green fireballs seen in New Mexico. And, I am relieved to say, their music is much better than their name lets on.

On the five track CD, Obscured by Light (a Pink Floyd reference, I presume), Stuart Smith et al produce some very exciting, diverse music. It's a kind of drums'n'bass meets prog rock fusion with lots of other things going on in between.

The Good, The Bad and the Time Lord from South America:

"Capaldi" is a great example of this, over a bass riff, you hear the sound of a Doctor Who style whistling effect and then a tune that sounds like its come straight out of a classic Western soundtrack and then suddenly goes all Mucho Mambo.

The imagination behind the melding of these diverse ideas onto one track is enormous: this is a musical tour de force.

Organ-ic:

Meanwhile, above a the sound of the hubbub of chatter, a macabre organ can be heard twiddling around (and that's the official musical definition!) on "Organ Grinder [Interlude]". It's short, snappy and ever so slightly sinister. Lovely!

Filmic:

"Enemies" sounds different again. This time, the Project seem to be in a more prog-rocky kind of style - the kind of thing that Medal or Porcupine Tree might come up with.

It's a cinematic piece: a wide screen picture of a deserted, rugged coastline, or maybe a thriller, where we don't know how the killer's going to strike next.

Space Invaders:

Each tune is entirely likable, full of its own quirkiness: be it the chanting and squelchy noises of underground sounding "The Bulgarian Six" or the cheap computer game sound effects of nod-to-Blur finale "Return of the Sun".

Shine On You Crazy Twinkles:

Music should always triumph when it demonstrates something new and slightly experimental. The Lakes have demonstrated this with their synth-indie, as has Jayl with all the various genres he utilizes.

Now we have more players on the scene to make Gloucestershire's music just that little bit more....... different. All they need to do is change the name.

03/02/04 - First published on www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire on this link