---

The Crystal Method, Fluke, Risotto, Uberzone, Arkana, Terry Mullan, DJ Icey, BombShelter DJ's, Gary Menichiello, R.C. Lair, Skylab Sound System, Herb And Gus Gus, AK1200, Karama.

Electric Highway Tour headliners the Crystal Method were dramatically different in approach and content. But they did share the distinguishing characteristic that separates this new breed of techno from its not-so-distant ancestors: an allegiance to rhythm and groove first, no matter how many layers of industrial-strength squall that rhythm and groove might be buried under. Besides a dazzling battery of lasers and mind-bending graphics projected on two huge screens at either side of the stage, Sunday's Electric Highway Tour at the World Trade Center boasted its share of audio highlights, including Fluke, a charismatic British outfit who mixed dirty-white-girl skronk with an air-raid industrial wallop (look for the band's Risotto on Astralwerks later this month). And then there were the omnivorous song stylings of the Nevada-based Crystal Method, who offered an explosive mix of thundering bass, screeching synths, and sampled guitars underpinning deftly deployed sound bites. The result was a sinewy, razor-edged attack, and grooves that snapped and popped with deadly precision. On "Busy Child," the first single from their new, critically praised Vegas (Outpost/Geffen), the Crystal's duo of Ken Jordan and Scott Kirkland polished the tune's diamond-cut dazzle to a brilliant, relentless shine, making it the night's -- and the weekend's -- highlight.

---