* TDF

RETAIL THERAPY

(Reprise)

The hype here is that Eric Clapton (under the nom de plectrum X-Sample) co-produces and plays on this ambient techno biscuit. The deal is that it's wallpaper, muzak ready for broadcast, low-energy melodicism over characterless synth washes. If you've been in a dentist's office, you've heard it all before. And though Clapton's technique sounds flawless, he's just filling time with empty-headed noodling. There's a stab at cleverness in sampling B.B. King's "How Blue Can You Get" for "Seven," with Clapton's most aggressive playing beefing up the swipe at Primitive Radio Gods. But, really, this CD's crap.

-- Ted Drozdowski