Jam entertainment

Press, 9 April 1981, Page 16

Jam entertainment

THE JAM ‘‘Sound Affects” (Polydor). “Sound Affects” is the fifth ■album by Britain’s most popular band. It was voted the best album of 1980 by the ■readers of the world’s big-gest-circulation rock weekly the “New Musical Express.” The title, and cover, are a parody of the 8.8. C. album series, “Sound Effects.’’ jj “Bet -it’ll be a raving review,” said a friend. I covered the Jam badges on my lapels and proceeded to the stereo. . “All. Mod Cons” (1978) was the start of the band’s rise in prominence, and its follow-, up, “Setting Sons,” was another beauty. After that album, the band released two singles, the latter (“Start”) finally available here by its inclusion on the album. Its. association with The Beatles’ ‘‘Taxman” through a common bass riff, has been well publicised. It was a catchy single, but within the context of the album it takes a back seat to some of The " Jam’s best moments yet. “That’s Entertainment” is the new single, and I’ll have to listen to the entire back catalogue to find a tune of equivalent "' class. Paul voice reaches, new heights amidst a glorious acoustic ramble about everyday life — “watchin’ the telly and thinkin’ about your holidays, that’s entertainment.” It was shown on Radio With Pictures last week.

Ring up Karyn Hay and demand a repeat. What a song: . To the rest. “Set The House Ablaze” has a surging ‘Eton Rifles” feel to it; “Monday,”a poignant love song, demonstrates how the band’s vocals, especially Weller’s, have improved; the rhythmic “Pretty Green” is a sarcastic overview of the importance of money in our lives. The Jam swagger through “Boy About Town,” hands in pockets; just a hint of reggae comes, through on “Music For The Last Cbuple,” while “Man Jn The Corner Shop,” “Dream • Time,” “Scrape Away,” and “But I’m Different Now” are sinking in, pleasantly. I’m not a “Paul Weller is God” person, but there are few Jam songs I don’t like. Give yourself that chance too. —David Swift. STEVE WINWOOD “Arc Of A Diver” (Island L 37468). Steve Winwood is better associated with the 60s R and B band Spencer Davis Group, and Traffic of the early 70s, after dabbling with Blind Faith — Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton included. It has- been three years since the Winwood’s first solo album, and in that time, he has had to contend with his usual -songwriter, Jim Capaldi, going to live in Brazil. In.a “Melody Maker” inWinwood reveals that although he had been

heavily involved in making music since the 60s he knew little about recording, and in a sense “Arc Of A Diver” is a means of rectifying this.

Winwood used his own 16track studio to record the album, and what is more, he did a Stevie Wonder — that is he played all the instruments on the recording. Side two, more than side one, reveals the freshness of his talent — a quality where overdubbing would show as fuzziness. If anything, the tracks, “Spanish Dancer” and “Night Train,’’show him bordering on the styles that Steely Dan are at present favouring, although the songs are not “disco” as ’the one reviewer has put it. At the same time perhaps being so close to the project has meant that Winwood is unable to see the faults, and this is that the album could have been more of a scorcher. It seems to favour cross-over rhythms arid easy ways out in its jazz tonings too much.

BLACK SLATE “Black Slate” (Mercury 6359041). Black Slate’s single, “Amigo” has jumped into thecharts in New Zealand, a similar stunt to that pulled in England when it went from nothing to No. 12 first week in. However, in spite of the 'jump Black Slate's commercial reggae style has little to offer. If Bob Majrley can be accused of preaching too much, the Black Slate are' empty imitators. They don’t preach. They don’t do anything, mun. Black Slate are on easylistening introductions to reggae. Black Uhuru's album “Sinseimilla” was released last week, and it would be much better fare than what has been offered here. Other than “Amigo,” the traditional song, “Boom Boom,” is interesting, and another, “Thin Line Between' Love and Hate,” by Poindexter shows the quality that Black Slate need. —Nevin Topp.