45s

Rip It Up, Issue 44, 1 March 1981, Page 16

45s

Mark Phillips

Newmatics, ‘Judas '. Screaming Meemees, ‘Can 't Take It' (Ripper) A true double A sided single. 'Judas’ shows how quickly the Newmatics’ material is coming together. Dynamic sax, tasty guitar and pumping rhythm section combine for a truly exquisite song.

'Can’t Take It’ opens like Elton John, then becomes the tightest song the Meemees have done yet. Vibrant, excitable music for an eighties’ pop generation. Together they make by far the best single to come from Ripper. Pop Mechanix, ‘Jumping Out A Window' (XSF) Pop Mechanix surpass themselves on their third single. Eddie Rayner has produced a joyously full sound that includes a brass section. If there’s any justice, it will be number one. Flip is the bright ‘Way I Dance’, and an uncredited acoustic version of the lyrically majestic ‘Private Military’. Great stuff.

Swingers, ‘Counting The Beat' (Ripper) First Australian single for the Swingers, and it’s gone straight to number one. Thunderous piece of swing, instantly memorable, and there is no reason for it not to repeat the success here. The B side is a re-mix of the classic ‘One Good Reason’. A real bonus.

Six Impossible Things (Sausage) This is an EP from a Wellington-based band featuring ex-members of Vacuum and Kaziportico. The four one-take tracks are; ’Moderation’, ‘Alien’, 'Summer On The Nullabor’ and 'Dirty And Disgusting'. They are sparse and simple, with a nod to early Velvets. If that’s your cup of tea, write to them at 95 Wallace St, Wellington.

Coup D'Etat, ‘Permanent Hire' (Vertigo) The Coup follow up their hit, ‘Doctor, I Like

Your Medicine’ with another reggae-style cut from their debut album. Although it has its moments, it doesn't have the saleability of ’Doctor’. The flip is the latin-influenced ’Allende’. The Beat, ‘Too Nice To Talk To' (Arista) First single from the Beat since their Just Can’t Stop It album. It’s highly produced, with rumbling jungle rhythm beefed up with searing sax. The flip is 'Psychedelic Rockers’ the closest thing to psychedelic ska I’ve heard. It appears the Beat aren't slipping like the Specials seem to be. Roxy Music, ‘Jealous Guy' (Polydor) Bryan gets into the tribute market with a Lennon song that should race up the charts. B-side is a new song, 'To Turn You On’, just another indication of how slick Roxy have become. The Go-Betweens, 'lNeed Two Heads' (Missing Link) The Go-Betweens are Australians who have lately been in Britain. This was recorded in Glasgow and released on Postcard Records. Recently voted Single of the Week by Sounds, ‘Two Heads’ is well worth writing to Australia for. Seemingly nonsensical lyrics twist and turn through jangling guitars and thundering bass drums. ‘Stop Before You Say It’ is equally impressive. Ray Columbus and the Invaders, ‘She’s A Mod' (Epic) Classic blast from 1964. Still a great single and handsomely presented in a picture sleeve, with Ray and the boys looking sharp. B side is another old hit, the R’n’B-based 'Yo Yo’.