ARTIST OF THE WEEK: Last year 36 impressed TSB's Erich Meister with his debut album, Hypersona; this year he may achieve a full sweep with his sophomore effort, Hollow. While the UK artist may have loaded many critics with an opportune pun involving the title of his album and the content therein, no such cheap shots will be featured here. It's clear that Hollow features a more mature artist dealing with darker themes than on Hypersona. While we still are treated to a wide sampling of synths, found sound, and scare electronics, the new album has a larger focus on processed guitars and adds some deeply buried string passages as well. The resulting effect is a dark, turbulent album, one where drones and white noise do their best to erode the more delicate electronic and classical instrumentation caught in the ambient snowstorm. In the end, 36 has created a highly rewarding album that one can pour countless hours into trying to discover its every last secret.