What's wrong with Book M? In my book, Book M is a masterpiece. And if you consider the other albums sketches, man, they sure are a hell of a sketchbook. Sure, there's always room for more, but the ways in which Eastern and Western sounds and aesthetics are integrated is unique and mindblowing. Trey's use of beats is one of the few cases were I can tolerate them and the furthest away from "cheesiness" I can think of. He has achieved to create in the studio a sound that incorporates Bollywood and Middle Eastern pop recording techniques. These are aesthetic choices and not due to financial limitations. Can't wait for the new shit to come out.
There's not much wrong with it in my opinion, it is definitely my favorite SC3 album so far. I do not agree, though, that it is masterpiece. I think Trey has a masterpiece up his sleeve somewhere, that's why I use the term "unrealized potential" when discussing the SC3. Where I certainly do not agree with you is in his "inventive use of beats". In fact, I think Trey's use of beats is about the weakest aspect of the entire SC3 project. Not because I don't like beats - I have been an avid follower of drum'n'bass for years and have dozens of drum'n'bass 12"-es myself. But just because I've heard this beat stuff done so much better, I think Trey's use of it is misguided. He has improved, though, because I can barely stand to listen to the Atari Teenage Riot influenced beat-oriented stuff he did on earlier albums, as in "Jabalqa" and "Jabarsa" (and so can Trey himself, methinks, as he has been fulminating against ATR for quite some time now...). I always thought DJ Cheb I Sabbah did a great job in mixing beats with oriental and Indian influences... I also have mixed feelings about Trey's use of source materials sometimes. I love to find out about semi-obscure artists as much as the next person, but sometimes I feel that Trey is using just a bit too much of other people's material. Looking at the "Book M" album alone, no less than 3 tracks are covers: "Siege Perilous" is an interpretation of a medieval Saltarello; "Blaze of the Grail" is a cover of RD Burman's main theme for the movie "Shalimar", and "Safina" is a cover of a song from one of the Ethiopiques albums (which, incidentally, is also covered by The Daktaris on their "Soul Explosion" album, where it is called "Musicawa Silt"). I hear definite traces of a Rafic Hoebeika track which is on the "Belly Dance Vol.2" compilation (VLD519) in "Combat for the Angel". And I bet you there are ideas gained from other world music in some of the other tracks, too. I think his choice of source material is impeccable, and there are very good reasons why he chooses particular tracks (cf. the cover of the "Exodus" theme by Ernest Gold on the new album refers directly back to the "The Red Sea Is Your Blood" theme which ran through the second SC3 album...). That said, I love what he is doing, and I definitely think the new album is going to blow everything out of the water. We'll know in a couple of weeks time...! Frankco