Rephlex is a puzzling label: at times it seems in love with the whole acid-house "braindance" throwback, and then suddenly, it releases an album like _Pangeia Instrumentos_ from Victor Gama. Gama's album -- primitivism meets modernity -- has almost a classical quality to it, examining different rhythmical patterns with what one could assume are traditional instruments. At the same time, the sounds are so textured (listen to the echoing hiss on "A Guerra Dos Homens Reptels") that one wonders how much electronic post-production was involved. But the tracks themselves are so varied that, in the end, it doesn't matter much. Take the gamelan-heavy "O Olho No Anzol," for example, or the strings on "Huyra": both these tracks have appeal beyond their initial moment of wonder. The tracks are also evocative: the twangy "Viagem Sem Retorno" hints at a prehistoric country-western track, while "Mibanga" cascades like a xylophone waterfall. A pleasant surprise from the Rephlex camp.

This is a great album, very organic, melodic, and beautiful. As Rephlex says, he uses traditional acoustic instruments from ancient times and evolves them into contemporary musical instruments. I think this is a brilliant album, and totally worth buying.