most consistent and prolific sonic adventurers. The Japanese duo, Toshi and Kudo, have frequently been joined by many collaborative forces including, in this case, Money Mark and ex- UNKLE player Tim Goldsworthy. Major Force date back to the late 805, but this retrospective picks up on their time with Mo' Wax records. They shackle together heavy breakbeats with wild electronics and peculiar found sounds, resulting in hugely distinctive,
' instrumental hip hop that never bores or crosses into self-indulgent territory. Tiny clinking cymbals and giggling teenage girls all find their way into the deep and varied mix, confounding the myth that everything from Japan is small. (MR)
DANCE/ELECTRONIC Akasha
Cinematique: The Remixes (Wall Of Sound) * it
A hitherto undiscovered gem in the Propellerheads/Les Rythmes Digitales dominated WoS roster, Akasha have been quietly funking themselves cross- eyed for the last few years with modest reaction from the punters. Slinky, jazz-tinged morsels like ’Spanish Fly’ and ’Brown Sugar’ snuck out to the delight only of those in the know. Both of these are given the remix treatment on this double disc. Sadly, though, the revamped versions are inferior to the originals — with the exceptions of the ingenious jazz drum trickery from Ian O’Brien on ’lnterzone’ and the spectacularly titled ’Tapping A Guitar With Beef On A Lovely Summer Day In Menlo Park’ mix of the same track. Whether it’s hip hop, house, 805 electro or drum & bass intended by the remixer, this is twiddles and meanders with no intent other than to loiter. Seek out the originals instead. (MR)
JAZZ
Mahavishnu Orchestra The Lost Trident Sessions (Columbia Legacy) ivkivk
If you have even a passing interest in the dinosaur genre of jazz-rock fusion, then this disc amounts to finding a complete T-Rex fossil. The master tapes of the legendary lost third studio album cut in 1973 by the classic original Mahavishnu Orchestra line-up of John McLaughlin, Jan Hammer, Jerry Goodman, Rick Laird and Billy Cobham turned up in Sony's vaults last year, and it is now officially released for the first time. Such finds often disappoint, but this is a genuine fusion classic to stand alongside its predecessors, Inner Mounting Flame and Birds of Fire. It all went pear-shaped for the band (and the genre) shortly aftenivards, but jazz- rock never got any better than this. (KM)
REGGAE
Horace And After The Flood (Melankolic) ** Horace Andy was edged out of retirement by Massive Attack to sing on their album Blue Lines in 1991. This is his first album since the resultant revival of interest in his 705 work. After hearing him sprayed over Massive Attack’s doom-laden hip hop, his angelic tones sound peculiar over
rootsy reggae again. The only problem is that this rootsy reggae, in particular, is not very interesting; and even once it becomes familiar, it neither augments nor particularly flatters Andy's soaring vocal lines. It is also without the rattling dub production which made his earlier work (especially his album In The Light) so captivating. Perhaps live this would work, but the result on vinyl is something of a disappointment. (MR)
Stoppable sex machine: Jim's Super Stereoworld
Lauryn Hill & Bob
Marley Turn Your ights Down Low (Columbia) 1*
Three interesting facts for a future generation: 1) If you poke a dead stoner with a stick for a long period of time, you can make him sing. 2) If you then employ daughter-in-law of said dead stoner as duetee, you can add incestuous undertones to your marketing mix. 3) The resultant song will suck. (NA)
Wheat Don't I Hold You (City Slang) *ttt
It's a stormy day out in the fields of Wheat. A blustery, Wuthering Heightsy day, where too much is said and emotions are unconstrained. This is a dark, brooding, paranoiac love song that chills you and spills you and gets you in the throat. Beautiful, beautiful thing. (NA)
Thunderbugs It's About Time You Were Mine (Epic) ***
You go, girl! Enough already with your insecurity issues, go bag that man!
This ditzy, growly gem is pure pop witchery, feel-good formulaic and lyrically inane, but it’s an ego-boosting pre-clubbing call for infatuated lasses to stop boring their mates, take action, and to hell with the post-coital mess. (NA)
Geneva Dollars In The Heavens (Nude) *‘k‘ki
Yet more uplifting genius, as everyone's favourite northern Scots take a break from gardening and return on tip-top form. This is another soaring monster from the Geneva stable of epic-ry; it’s more of the same, but it’s good. Geneva, you’re epic bastards, but this is an anthemic wee dancer of a tune. (NA)
Diana Ross Not Over You Yet (EMI) *
From ’Baby Love’ to ’Chain Reaction’ to this? Diana Ross is going down, and how. This pithy house beatz proferring from the erstwhile Supreme and Champion of sequinned frippery is bland, dated and dull. It will be huge in Clubland, but nonetheless, Diana, your diva status is revoked. (NA)
Belinda Carlisle
All God’s Children (Virgin) flunk
She never claimed to be a diva, our 'Lindy, but she's had trauma enough to meet the stringent membership
The joy of insects: Thunderbugs
record reviews MUSIC
criteria. This chortles along merrily, carried by her winsome voice and some groovy Go-Gos basslines. A fine slice of mindless pop pie from one of God‘s most beautiful children. (NA)
Mount Florida Stealth (Matador) *tit
Beelzebub be praised! Some harsh scary beats and scrapy bleeps to listen to in the bath. This tune takes a dander around your muffled head, litters it with mediaeval twings and Egyptian twangs, and doesn’t clean up the mess. Just add gin and razor blades - it’s a glorious way to go. (NA) Jim's Super Stereoworld
Could U B The 1 lWaited 4? (Fierce Panda) ii
In times of indie yore, a thousand stripey-Iegged kids worshipped Jim Bob, the daftly barnetted half of Carter USM. These days he's Jim-Bob lite, devoid of his cynical and painfully politicised wit. He's still the Peter Pan of Indie Rock, but somehow it just isn't the same. (NA)
Melanie C Northern Star (EM!) **
More sub-Madonna fallout from Britain's biggest mistake since Thatcher. Mel C was always the maverick one, the restless, jumpy, Bryan Adams one; and this is a bitter little number, a not- at-all veiled accusation of the shallow music world. ’They buy your dreams so they can sell your soul,’ she warbles, badly. Alas, poor Mel. (NA)
Blur No Distance Left To Run (EMI) *iri‘k
There are ’Country House’ Blur fans and there are ’Bang!’ Blur fans and there are those who will love 'No Distance Left To Run'. Uncomfortable guitars and sad, sad words make this haunting, unsettling, off-kilter tune one of the finest, chart-unfriendliest moments on 13. The B-side Cornelius remix of ’Tender’ is wonderfully weird. (NA)
Jamiroquai King For A Day (Sony) *
Jamiro why, exactly?
The Unspoken Heard Jamboree (Seven Heads) **~k*
Another six pack of bumping party hip hop. A whole kegful of MCs drop some lyrical madness over a 70s looped shuffle beat. The rest of the EP follows in similar style, pushing the positive vibe to the fore. A refreshing change to hear a sense of humour as opposed to the cliched ninja/Uszitches/gangsta bollocks. Livin’ large in the true sense of the words. (MR)
nevuswsns nus ISSUE:
Nicky Agate, Doug Johnstone, Kenny Mathieson, Jack Mottram, Mark Robertson, Gabe Stewart
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4-18 Nov 1999 THE I18" 47