Record Review:  That's What

      Post-instrumental finger-picking neo-experimental expressionism is one way to describe Leo Kottke's latest foray.  Quirky, quasi-bizarre, textural, creative, funny music is another.  Regardless of what you call it, this stuff is a far cry from the hyper acoustic playing he's known for.  Backed by percussion, trombone, bass, and synth, Kottke divides his time betwen acoustic guitar and 6-string bass, which enables him to exploit the low end of the pitch range and create an underwater-sounding atmosphere, especially on the slower compositions.  Whether this material represents a permanent change in direction of a one-shot dalliance, it shows a side of the guitarist's personality that's a little strange but not scary. -- JF