What began as a moniker for ambient composer Peter Martin, Eddie The Rat has now become a functioning band, with Martin at the helm. And I mean band; at times, the touring lineup featured no less than a dozen members. While live the band focused on long inprov tracks, ?Insomnia Sound Bible? features mostly shorter pieces. A lot of sonic ideas are crammed into these sixteen tracks, each a complete soundscape that works to form a complete whole environment.

Driven by homemade instruments, woodwinds and percussion, along with at times haunting vocals and harmonies, any of the tracks are rich and effecting, but for me ?Piecemeal 835 Blooze,? ?Freak Out and Die,? and the closer, ?Calling Mr. Stratosphere? are good entry points into what magic is available here.

Another track (and the longest, as 12 minutes plus) is called ?Lip-Synching at Zero Gravity.? That is an apt alternative title to ?Insomnia Sound Bible.? The sense of dreamy, hazy, but important mystical logic being imparted is a good description for these short tone poems. Martin and large company deliver haunting missives from Beyond, grounded in violin and cello, and sounds anyone can find if they pay attention. 8/10 -- Mike Wood (19 December, 2007)