Music: Latest reviews

Jan 21 2008 by Our Correspondent, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

LUPE FIASCO: The Cool Lupe goes off the hip hop beaten track – one song here is written from the perspective of a cheeseburger out to wreak revenge on humanity – and many more tell the tale of a zombie hustler seeking redemption after coming back from the dead. Darker certainly than his debut album, Food And Liquor, but he craftily weaves in soul and jazz. He loves satire –and it shows in his lyrics. And that’s cool.

SIA: Some People Have Real Problems And one problem for Sia is getting the interest going after a couple of dowdy, deadpan opening tracks stoned by her granite voice. But then, without warning, it takes flight with Day Too Soon – certainly not a moment too soon – and you get the odd song that’s got this precious feel to it. But, in the end, those moments are too rare. Includes a slipping, sliding, slurring rendition of the Pretenders’ fantastic I Go To Sleep. Australian Sia, now living in New York, came to fame with Mercury Award-nominated Zero 7

VANGELIS: Blade Runner The haunting, deeply atmospheric early 80s film Blade Runner set in an apocalyptic vision of Los Angeles in 2019 was probably the best sci-film movie ever made – and the soundtrack matches it. The synth-sobbing Love Theme is one of the best instrumentals ever penned and the next track along, One More Kiss, is pure 1930s ditty. Then there’s dialogue from the film on evocative tracks best summed up by their titles such as Desolation Path, Empty Streets, Sweet Solitude and Perfume Exotico. The soundtrack is lavished across three CDS to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary and includes previously unreleased music along with a brand new album of brooding Vangelis music inspired by the film.