VINYL FORMAT. Table of the Elements celebrates its 15th anniversary with the debut disk in its Guitar Series Vols. 3 & 4. It's a 12-volume romp of deviant fretnoise by some of experimental music's most prominent players, including Christian Fennesz, Thurston Moore, and Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley. Collections of Colonies of Bees generated quite the (forgive us) buzz, following the January release of their CD Birds, and deservedly so. Their sound is expansive, vast, and billowing; full of ringing guitars, soaring in the best traditions of the Chatham/Branca standoff; meanwhile, beneath the clouds sprawl dewy meadows of gently rolling electronica. Six Guitars is just what its title states, yet so much more. Wildly versatile drummer Jon Mueller follows the rules by hammering on an electric guitar with mallets, enhancing the Steve Reichian vibe (compare this with Mueller's face-melting solo onslaught Metals, also released in January). The band sparkles accordingly, lifting to a dazzling climax. It's epic minimalism in exquisite registration, and the perfect selection to introduce the Table of the Elements Guitar Series (fans will be happy to hear that Mueller is on deck with a solo contribution to the series as well). Beyond the music, there's the similarly spectacular packaging. It's a one-sided, 12-inch LP, pressed on clear vinyl; the reverse is laser etched with an original illustration by acclaimed UK artist Savage Pencil, whose credits include album art for The Fall, Big Black, and Sonic Youth. It's a limited-edition pressing, so get it while you can disks from the label's original Guitar Series in 1993/1994 are now some of Collectorville's must coveted treasures.