CDs May 2001

Manitoba : Start Breaking My Heart. Can't remember it quite well. Canadian, kind of soft electronic quite beautiful music.

Clearlake : Lido. A very unique record. Psychedelia from Brighton, very unlike anything you hear these days. Can't find a way to describe it. Early Pink Floyd ? But short songs.

The Avalanches : Since I left you. Mad sampler from Oz. A brilliant album. Something to move your ass to.

Terris : Learning to Let go. Welsh guitar band, angry and energetic, very good though you may be slightly inconvenienced at first with the broken voice.

Zero 7 : Simple Things. Labelled 'the British Air' (which is quite ironic when you think the new Air album is just out now, and is apparently very un-like what people thought Air was........), a very good album. Quiet on all fronts though...

Twig : I sweat Tabasco. The most unlistenable noise racket I have ever bought. The surprise appearance of a keyboard (vaguely reminiscent of a flute bit on a Dexy's song, but no don't get carried away) softens the blow. But I think you'd have to be a hardcore fan of all things Einstuerzende Neubauten to enjoy listening to that in a non-altered stated.

The Servant : With The Invisible. I like that a lot. Sort of electro-pop with guitars in, surreal lyrics. Class !

Electrelane : Rock It to the Moon. Like a more atmospheric Stereolab. Few lyrics. Droning guitars, Krautrock-like, a very good and groovy album.

Elbow : Asleep in the Back. Critically acclaimed, some really beautiful songs. I think the title tells you where to listen to it. Not my favourite at the moment but well worth a listen.

R.E.M. : Reveal. Their best album yet ? Some say so. Mind you it's the only one I've got and it's great. Tuneful, melodic, emotional. The single is typical R.E.M.-as-you-imagine-them-when-you-don't-really-know-them (i.e. Losing my Religion). If my head didn't feel that fucked at the moment, I'd feel very emotional about it.

Ash : Free All Angels. Rock from Northern Ireland. Third Album, guitars galore. Some tunes to drive fast to. Great !

Mogwai : Rock Action. The new album. What can I say ? A thing of stunning and desolate beauty. Achingly superb. It had me crying in the car though this had more to do with my state. Splendid work of art,where even the voice is just another instrument. The words don't matter. Turn it up, and let yourself be guided, admire the landscape. At the end of the journey you'll just say : 'wow'.

Airport Girl : Honey I'm an artist. Yeah ? Maybe not a very good one then ! The voice is too poor to make these guitar tunes really work. Bits of good pop, but really, not more than a couple of decent (but still badly-sung) tracks.