3 out of 5

Label: (self-released)

Produced by: (Enon?)

From the band’s website’s description of the album: “The CD showcases a series of instrumentals that goof on the waiting music you have to hear while you are on the phone and left “ON HOLD.” ”

Take that, and combine it early-Enon quirk – erring more toward the Brainiac influence than pop – and you can assume most of the shtick here, filling the blanks with track names like ‘Coin-Op Memories’ and ‘Limbo Horror Theme.’  It is, indeed, mostly goofy stuff, occasionally surprising in the way its simple sing-songiness builds on itself but never building up to anything really essential; there’s enough going on to hold attention, but at the same time, nothing to get behind.  Enon’s other instrumental CDr, Long Play, is perhaps more notable for its obvious experimentation – you can trace the genesis of early ideas and styles.  On Hold is much more structured, but also completely fleeting – a nice used bin find, and maybe good for rounding out your collection, but very unlikely to merit replays.