NEW ADVENTURES: Tip Of My Tongue. Big, bold, melodramatic pop tumble that reaches out for anthemic status – and caresses it.
THE HOURS: Big Black Hole. A complex piano and staccato percussion song about a complex subject, alcoholism, and how alcoholics are usually the last to face up to it. Lyrically it makes an indelible point. Musically, it doesn’t.
OPERAHOUSE: Genius Child. Thinking pop rock that ebbs and flows from plodding introspection to sheer guitar-searing sonic explosion, usually within a few bars – not the pub kind.
FRANKMUZIK: Better Off As Two. This disco pop synth sparkler is an attention-grabbing debut from the 23-year-old college dropout who sports a pair of razor-sharp cheekbones and sound to match. More than a shade of the 80s, but that’s the new nostalgia for you. A diamond electro geezer.
PAUL CARRACK: No Doubt About It. Not so much a head-nod, more a giant leap in the direction of Curtis Mayfield-style stomping soul complete with brass action.
STEVE CROPPER AND FELIX CAVALIERE: Nudge It Up A Notch. Cropper is a Stax guitar powerhouse and Cavaliere fronted The Rascals with his velvet voice, so what they’re nudging up a notch is new songs heavily influenced by their glorious past, hence the bluesy Stax, breezy Motown, sweet soul smoothies and the odd foray into hip hop to bring it bang up to date. Words like ‘girl, you’re outta sight’ somewhat dates them along with their 60s sentiments that a change is gonna come. There’s a couple of crackers in here that could have done the business way back then.
RACHAEL YAMAGATA: Elephants and Teeth Sinking Into Heart. Also dubbed a record of two parts with one slow and the other a rockier affair. The slow stuff ranges from rich, vibrant, classical tapestry to the rather dowdy – you know it’s getting serious when cellos become involved. Strangely enough, the slow tracks have more power and intensity than when she tries to big it up on the loud side. You don’t have to be loud to make a noise that counts.
