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RECORD REVIEWS MUSIC
V ALBUMS
I Stravinsky: The Rite Of Spring (Virgin) The composer‘s own great version (now available again as Sony split up the recent box. but as part ofa three-CD set ofthe ballets) and one or two others aside. this early 20th century masterpiece is surprisingly poorly served on record. but the charismatic Kent Nagano does it full justice with the London Philharmonic. One of the best on disc. and highly recommended. it comes with the rarely-heard Persephone in a special-price double CD set. A new batch of (‘1)s from Virgin’s acclaimed budget-price Virgo series includes the S(‘() in Beethoven and Mozart. and the Scottish Ensemble in Bach and English string music. (Kenny Mathieson)
I The Specials: Live At The Moonlight Club (2 Tone)/Live—Too Much Too Young (Received/T he Selecter: Out On The Street (Receiver) Two live Specials albums. on different labels. released in the same month— what's going on? And do you think I mind'.’
Despite or because of its bootleg quality. the Moonlight Club set on election night ‘79 generates real heat and. fittingly. it‘s over in a flash. The mood is celebratory but intense — or just plain tense — and the band are magnificently taut. The chatter at the time was that they invested the spirit and energy ofpunk into ska — a cliche that should have worn thin by now. but still rings true: even the ‘socially relevant‘ lyrics that sank so many bands of the time are needle-sharp. They may not have swayed the election. but how many of the thirteen-year-old girls addressed in ‘Too Much Too Young‘ took their advice? (One for the sociologists there.) Live— 'I‘oo Much Too Young. recorded slightly earlier than the Moonlight Club date. has all the songs of that album plus five more. and the vocals are more clearly recorded. but perhaps some ofthe frisson of that other gig is absent.
You could probably count on one hand the number of people who have been clamouring for a live album ofthe 1991 Selecter; a fact which taken in tandem with its release on the low-profile Receiver label implies a degree of desperation on the part ofthe former three-minute heroes. This gives Out On The Street quite a different flavour for. while the Specials albums show a band
basking in growing (and frenzied) attention. The Selecter play this mixture of old and new songs as though their lives depended on it. (Alastair Mabbott)
I Arrested Development: Three Years, Five Months And Two Days In The Lile Ol . . . (CooltempoHust when you thought you‘d heard the last word in rap. out flowers a juicy red apple ofa different sort. Freshly harvested from the orchards of the Georgian countryside comes a rap group unlike any other. AD deplore rap‘s ‘pimp/ho‘ approach. they detest macho attitudes towards women. they question the values of their modern church. they examine their history and they do it all in public. to music that actually moves you. Freshly plucked soul beats are youthfully served with just the funkiest ofsamples to deliver a fruit salad platter of devastating originality. Rap‘s never sounded so good. (Philip Ogilvie)
I Mr Fingers: Introduction (MCA) Larry Heard (aka Mr Fingers) is the man who. along with Robert ()wens. was responsible for a host ofunusually dreamy and mellow tracks with gentle vocals - a genre which was later termed deep house. Blissfully ahead ofits time. Introduction continues the exercise; a variation upon thirteen floatation therapy themes. it‘s sun-kissed. exotic. rich and creamy. wrapped in heavenly vocals to melt even the hardest ofsouls. Always controlled. it‘s a buoyant album for all those who want to learn about house music. And this is merely an introduction. (Philip Ogilvie)
v SINGLES 3
I The Weretrogs: Don't
. Slip Away (Ultimate) This is
a nice change. Tired of having groups choking on American grit and grunge
when they actually hail
from Newport Pagnell?
Then welcome The Werefrogs. US students of
Anglo-pop indie style. They've clocked the
l
dance acts and dance
' labels in Scotland? Public
announcements from rooftop vantage points at the very least. Q-Tex are the latest bedroom heroes to come galloping from the hills with rave tidings that could hold their own next to most Top 40 gatecrashers. At the moment their efforts are adequate (certainly professional enough). but they‘ll need that certain spark/gimmick/guest vocalist to put them up there with the Bizarre lncs
and Altern 8s. (PS)
i IF.O.R.C.E. 'n'K-Zee:
Jam (Circa) They call it ‘Funky Vibes with a Raggamuffin'l‘wist‘. I‘d call it the first British
commercial attempt at
. Swingbeat. Slick catchy Yeow Tan guitar and
-' mellow melody makes for
an addictive dance sound.
They‘re currently
creaming over Swingbeat
sublime sounds emanating
from the distortion and
reverb school on this side
i
ofthe pond. and
reproduced them with
partial success. A decent tune has failed to make the transatlantic crossing. but there‘s a lush catalogue ofeffects providing superficial thrills enough. The grass does indeed sprout greener on t‘other side. (F3)
I O-Tex: Natural High E? (23rd Precinct) With what
alacrity should we be
heralding the arrival of
in the London clubs. hailing it as the music of the summer (although they‘ve been sayingthat for the last two years). lfit does materialise. then this is a juicy summer fruit to get sticky to. (PC)
I Louie Vega And Marc Anthony: Ride On The Rhythm (East West) The Masters at Work‘.’ Well there‘s eight: Basement Boys. Todd Terry. Louie Vega. Kenny Dope. Marc Anthony. India. Tito Puente and Eddie Palmieri. All deliver superb new interpretations ofone of last year‘s best house tunes. Never before has a title been so apt. as you undulate across the dancefloor. riding wave upon wave ofenjoyable grooves and hooks. (PO)
I Cud: Rich And Strange (AMA) Rough edges seem to have been sanded off for Cud‘s new EP. We hear a more animated. rhythmic side without losing their relaxed nature. Their songwriting has matured also. the title track being one ofthose ‘pop into your head at the bus stop‘ repeaters. Highly recommended. (GI)
I Suede: The Drowners (Nude) Foppish dilettantes ridingthe backs ofthe spiders from Mars. Suede are libidinous and lascivious and dubious. lofted high by their gender-blender glam soup. laid low by the proxy artifice ofthis supposed Great New Sound. Their trashy grind can. though. offer quick thrills — which. were it not for their pre-natal canonisation at the hands of the press. would be more than enough. (CMcL)
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V The List a — 21 May 199259