Jack L - Tremendous (38SCR).
Potently melodious pop is order of the day with Jack Lukeman's
'Tremendous'. This song is loveable from the first listen with a
medley of soothing instruments carving out a tune behind Lukeman's
highly regarded vocal prowess. Here is a classic pop song from a
classic performer and the 'grin and bear it' message makes it all the
more wonderful.
Manic Street Preachers - The Everlasting (Epic).
This is everything you could expect from the relentless Manics -
powerful, meaningful and dangerously endearing. The sound is toned
down, the lyrics suitably obscure and uplifting. Some might say 'The
Everlasting' is diluted Manics but it always amazes me how a sad song
can make you so happy.
The Lo-Fidelity Allstars feat. Pigeonhed - Battleflag (Skint)
Embroiled in a legal wrangle over the use of certain samples, the new
Lo-Fi Allstars single sounds a tad too watered-down. It's very spacey
and mood-fuelled, conspicuously bereft of the usual multitude of
tweaks, squeaks and bits n' bobs that litter the Lo-Fi's work. It's
not exclusively big beat either; traces of techno, and hip-hop appear
in the mix and revive a generally poorly track.
Penthouse - Valley of the Sows (Beggars Banquet)
Seems Penthouse (the magazine) boss Bob Guccione doesn't like a
heavy-metal band stealing his name. He must have been doubly incensed
upon hearing the debut LP title, 'Gutter Erotica'. Apart from all
that, 'Valley of the Sows' is a rather hackneyed schlock-rock number
that moves with all the grace of a lame pig. No wonder Guccione took
offence.
Thievery Corporation - Lebanese Blonde (4AD)
Acid House happened now let's move on. Thievery Corporation's groovy
mix of club and indie isn't where it's at but where it will be at in a
few year's time. The consistency of the groove, the disarming melody
and the understated vocals are all perfect. This is song-writing as it
should be. Absolutely and utterly outstanding.
Mucho Macho - The Airport Freeze (Wiiija)
Putting the spring back in the step of big beat, Mucho Macho present
'The Airport Freeze'. Here they put the beat on a rack, stretch it,
torture it and add a James Bond-esque string sample. The tune meanders
through all that once was joyous in the ephemeral cultural upheaval
they called big beat. Really, dance music rarely seems so exciting.
Slide - Confusional State (Flying Rhino)
'Confusional State' is always trancey but thumping and funky too. The
melody gives it a catchy feel that all but guarantees popularity on
club night dancefloors. Meanwhile, the vitriolic house b-side mix
(Danny Howell) has already been picked up by the likes of Nick Warren,
John Digweed and Paul Oakenfold. That certainly bodes well.
Stripped - 4 Walls EP (PBS)
Stripped from Ballymena can kindly fuck off back to Ballymena if this
is the best they can do. Lazy guitar pop clichés have no place in any
society outside of this bunch's garden shed. Sorry lads, the truth
hurts.
Fonda - Music for Beginners EP (Top Quality)
For a while this sounded bloody good - Mercury Rev covering the
Beautiful South. Surprisingly, it worked. That is until Fonda vocalist
Emily Cook began her tuneless crooning and, to be honest, that's a
shock you don't get over easily. With one throaty rasp all promise
disappeared.
The Plague Monkeys - Mouth to Mouth (Crosstown)
Imagine the offspring of Dolores Keane and Christie Hennessy singing
soullessly over the backing music of a cheap Cranberries cover band.
Imagine the agony.
by Michael Gleeson.
