Source Direct / Controlled Developments / Astralwerks (CD)
If you're a film-maker, listen up. Next time you're making a sci-fi
horror film about zombies running amok in a dark, futuristic city, don't
bother hiring a composer -- just license Controlled Developments
in its entirety. You'll get six cuts-worth of urgent, frenzied,
discomfiting urban drum-and-bass of the sort that dystopian fever-dreams
are made of. As long as you don't need a love theme, you're set, cos'
there certainly isn't one here! -- gz
Various Artists / The Event Horizon / City of Tribes (CD)
Here's an excellent way to become acquainted with City of Tribes'
roster. Round four features some excellent experimental tracks, seasoned
with ambience and world beats -- peaceful, relaxing and beautiful. The
superb "Kereshme" by Stellamara and Ambient Temple of *Magin*nation's
"Flash Back (Live)" exemplify the progressive, synchronous energy that
flows seamlessly through this compilation. Fans of Muslimgauze and Extreme
Records take note! Make a conscious effort to grab this sampler, and check
out some other City of Tribes artists. --am
1000 Clowns / Kitty Kat Max / Fish of Death Records (C-Dingle)
Quite a pleasant surprise. "Kitty Kat Max" is slacker hip-hop, with
cute female backing vocals and a loop so recognizable, it has
"everything we make from this song will go toward sampling royalties" written all
over it. Its subject -- a lost cat -- has that kinder, gentler vibe so
well exploited by Wil Smith in his formative years. "Pretty Liar" is actually a
better song -- still with a seventies vibe, but more introspective, less
gimmicky, and with a better balance between male and female vocals. I'm
looking forward to the full-length. -- gz
Lace up your jackboots and strap on your suspenders, because The Skoidats
are in the house with their Oi!-tinged take on traditional ska. Take Sham
69 and slam them into the Skatalites and you've got a pretty good idea of
what to expect on The Times. Moon Ska is the saviour of bona fide
ska-type-stuff and albums like this are the proof. --NW
Death in Vegas / Dead Elvis / Time Bomb (CD)
Death In Vegas would benefit substantially from being able to send
Dead Elvis back in time about four years so that instead of being
seen as derivative of the Chemical Brothers, the opposite would happen.
That's a bit of an unfair assessment anyway, as only "Dirt" is really
Chem-esque, and it's a groovy song. "All That Glitters", meanwhile, is
a cool bit of funk, "gbh" has a ragga-rhythmed charm to it and "I Spy"
turns into a trip-hoppy take on the spy-music genre. Otherwise, things
get a bit vague, especially the last few tracks. -- gz
Steve Wynn / Sweetness and Light / Zero Hour (CD)
>From the man who brought us The Dream Syndicate and Gutterball, Sweetness
and Light has Mr. Wynn in good form with a live-in-the-studio band pumping
out rock/pop tunes that evoke dreams you might have with your head between your
knees. Wynn's voice has bite and it's that sharp edge that will hold your
interest much better than a redundant Petty record. Think more along the lines
of Nick Drake or Robert Forster, yet a little more pristine. -- es
Jeff Dahl / Heart Full of Snot / Triple X (CD)
As all but the truly obtuse might discern from song titles like "Turn Me
On", "She's Breakin' My Heart Again" and "Hung On You", Jeff Dahl is
still making testosterone-enhanced, Male-Appendage-That-Rhymes-With-Crock
Rock. And his hardcore punk roots-approach, not to mention a voice that
frequently strays into pre-pubescent range, make him hard to dislike if
you are now, or have ever been, male and 15. Once you've passed that
magic age, however, you'll probably find the title image pretty
nauseating (heart full of Mango-Melon Diet Rite, anyone?)... -- gz
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