Singles

Rip It Up, Issue 157, 1 August 1990, Page 31

Singles

MAXIPRIEST CloseTo You (10 Records) 12 Ohyes, Single of the Month. Lovers’ rock is that hybrid of American soul, MOR and Jamaican vocal style shown by the greats like Gregory Isaacs and new boys like Thriller V. > Maxi was a teenage MC Star, accumulating alarge following due to his mainstream American soul approach, that's why | like him. He's got a greatlovers voice, and in this mix (Sly Dunbar, Tucker and Chung) it moves like a hyped up snake It's a perfect Auckland record. But that's no reason why the rest of you shouldn'tlike it. Maxi takes on hot MC Tiger on the flip side. It can’t miss. : JESUS JONES Real, Real, Real . (Food) 12“ i Ilike dance mixes, | really like them, but only with dance acts. This current English disease of tacking on punky drummer (Stone Roses) and adding a bit of space to the rhythm justis pathetic, why can’tthey leave well enough alone. Without the funky bass this would sound like something from the Rocky Horror Picture show. YOUNG MC > ICome Off (Declicous Vinyl) Usual themes of tough guy MC knocking down pretenders to the rap crown, like Tyson hits boxers and superfly snukatop ropes wrestlers. Much slower than the album version but placed in perspective by two English hot shots, CJ MacKintosh and Dave Dorrell. Subdued Go-Go, non-stop bass and refro organ sound, laid back groove that takes a while fo getinto. JOHNNY GILL : Rub You The Right Way (Motown) 12” | : The last New Edition vocalistand a man with a serious soul voice, uptempo swing beat that cracks along behind the risque

theme. Make a great baby oil commercial. Taken from the classy album and perhaps the only fasttrack onit. MELLOW MAN ACE Mentirosa (Capitol) 12 Cuban rap staruses Santana’s ‘Evil Ways' as the back beat and takes this high inthe American pop charis. The theme is aboutthat old cheating woman, witha greatline aboutbeing too scared to go to churchfor confession, never heard thatin arap song before. Excellent, the radio should be pumping it non-stop. LITAFORD Hungry ; (Dreamland) 7” Cass, CD Big fan of this one. Ms Lita comes on strong talking about how she “wanna faste your sweat thing” and stuff. It's got that west Auckland feel with the guitars and philosophy, and ends with the line “How'd you like that little pussycat scratch”. Nextto Maxi, single of the month. PRINCE Thieves In The Temple (Paisley Park) 12“ After abit of a dry period with Batman and Love Sexy, Prince returns o that dry funky sound of Sign Of The Times (maybe?). It's got the feel, uptempo and exciting, all thumper thumper something about “the kind of love that can move a mountain”, that'simmense baby.

THE TIME ThelJerk

(Paisley Park) 12 Back to form, a song about actual sex or maybe masturbation. Whatever, it's got that upfront chicken scratch guitar and Morris Day talking about “nice blouse, mind if | take it off”. Well this is better than the Prince single, if you like it down home and dirty. :

DIANABROWN & BARRIEK SHARPE The Masterplan : ” (FFRR) 12” 3 As only the English could do it. More American 70s funk in a rare groove style like the Barkay's ‘Holy Ghost’ and Curtis Mayfield's ‘Superfly’. But of course not

quite. Lacks something, maybe it's called soul. :

MADONNA Hanky Panky (SIRE) Cassingle Something your grandmother might like From thatill-fated Dick Tracy thing Madonnadid. It has its moments like “my bottom gefs sore just thinking about it” but that's only if you're interested about such things. Apart from that, it’s pre-easy listening all the way.

STONE ROSES Onelove (Silvertome) 12“ This thing could never be a hit, even if it came outin 1972. Hey, waita minute, itis a hit, the kids are lapping itup! If's groovesville, alright, bit of wah-wah happening, Hendrix guitar weaving in and out, nice new age philosophy. Retrospective is one of my favourite things. Where were youin ‘722 KERRY BUCHANAN