The New Music Report

Rip It Up, Issue 161, 1 December 1990, Page 25

The New Music Report

WARNER MUSIC

SISTERS OF MERCY Vision Thing After two years of silence, the Sisters of Mercy emerge with an aural triumph, a vision to behold. Added to the line-up is Tony James (ex Gen X) and Tim Bricheno (ex All About Eve). The first single is 'More' a hypnotic mingling of tension, love and desire written by mainman Andrew Eldritch and Jim Steinman. The brilliance is back.

LeVERT Rope A Dope Style These guys have had six No.l R&B hits in the USA with two gold albums The Big Throwdown and Just Coolin'. They've also produced hits for Troop and Miki Howard. Highlights include the first single 'Rope A Dope Style', 'l've Been Waiting' and 'Rain'.

TWIN PEAKS Original Movie Soundtrack From the infamous TV Series Twin Peaks (sceens February on TV3) masterminded by ace cult movie director David Lynch (Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart) and his cinematic music collaborator Angelo Badalamenti. Highlights include 'Falling' (Twin Peaks theme), Julee Cruise's single version of the same song and Cruise's 'lnto the

EVERLAST Forever Everlasting A young white West Coast rapper from Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate, who's shown his sassy delivery on 'Syndication' (Yo! Part 1) and 'I Got the Knack'. Guests include Ice-T on 'The Rhythm' and Kool Nick on 'Speak No Evil'. The white dude rapper who did it good, years before Vanilla Ice.

NICHOLAS DE ANGELS Best Of The French guitarist who has already been acclaimed in France as the "new hero of the soft trend". His promoters are Paul de Senneville and Oliver Toussaint who brought Richard Clayderman along the path to world stardom. The 1 6 track CD Best Of is the perfect way to enjoy this popular. master of classical guitar.

SOHO Goddess Soho are hot with dance hit 'Hippychick'. The trio are twin sisters Jacqueline and Pauline plus Timothy the songwriter and guitarist. This eclectic group of 11 songs explore an organic pop sound with a 60s feel. Other crucial songs—'Love Generation', 'Out of My Mind' and 'Another Year'.

TEN CITY State of Mind The outstanding vocal group who burst out of the Chicago house music scene in 1988 with dance hits 'Devotion' and 'That's the Way Love Is'. They're back with their ground-breaking second album with high-energy dance tunes like the first single Whatever Makes You Happy'. Tape and CD contain two bonus tracks.

DONNASUMMER The Best of Donna Summer All the hits from her classic disco diva days of the 70s — 'I Feel Love', 'Hot Stuff', 'MacArthur Park', 'On the Radio' to 80s hits 'The Wanderer 7 and 'Love Is InControl (Fingeron theTrigger)'. 13 classic Donna Summer hits!

SWEET F.A. Stick to Your Guns A hard rock band from America's mid-west who have built their sound on a'rock-solid foundation poured by the bands they grew up on — Aerosmith, Van Halen, Deep Purple. Vocalist Steve Delong describes Sweet FA as 'kind of a hard rockin', bad-ass blues, just your basic kick-ass rock & roll. Key tracks: 'Devil's Road', 'Prince of the City'.

MICHAEL KAMEN / DAVID SANBOURN Concerto for Saxophone Kamen is one of the top film composers (Lethal Weapon, Diehard, Mona Lisa)' who frames David Sanbourn's soaring alto amid colourings reminiscent of Aaron Copland and Ralph Vaughan -Williams. Here Kamen conducts the National Philharmonic Orchestra and featured guitarists include Elliot Randall, David Gilmourand Terry Reid.

RALPH TREVESANT Ralph Trevesant The first solo album form the former lead singer of the New Edition is one of the most highly anticipated albums of 1990, following the success of other group members Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill and Bell Biv DeVoe. The first hit single 'Sensitivity' is produced by Jam and Lewis. Other key tracks are 'Stone Cold Gentleman' and 'Love Hurts'.

PEBBLES Always This is the singer's first album since her platinum selling debut LP that contained the No. 1 singles'Girlfriend'and 'Mercedes Boy'. Once again the hitmaking team of LA. and Babyface produce. Highlights are first single 'Givin'You the Benefit', simmering R&B funk 'Backyard' and rockin' 'Good Thang'.

KENNY ROGERS Love is Strange The second regularalbumforthe Reprise label, Rogers reunites with Dolly Parton to duet on the title track. Last time they were togetherthey had a major pop hit with 'lslands in the Stream'. Other key tracks are 'What I Did for Love' and 'Soldier of Love'.

PHALON Rising to the Top A funky young dude from Memphis label Mega jam, whose father is James Alexander of Barkays fame. The title track was a Top 20 Urban and Dance hit in the USA. This guy has a true rapper's gift, a message with a meaning, melodic gifts and a sense of humour.

10,000 MANIACS Hope Chest This album contains newly remixed material from the Maniac's first self financed releases (now collectors items), Human Conflict N 0.5 and Secrets of the I Ching. Includes 14 gems, such as their first acclaimed singles 'Tension' and 'My Mother the War'. A treasure trove!

BIG DADDY KANE Taste of Chocolate Big Daddy Kane is the major writer for the Cold Chillin' label, composing hits for Roxanne Shanteand BizMarkie. His new single is 'Cause I Can Do It Right' from his third album that includes a posse of special guests including Barry White, Barbara Weathers and Malcolm X's daughter.

KING'S X Faith Hope Love By King's X This Houston based trio have received critical acclaim. Rolling Stone wrote of 1989's Gretchen Goes to Nebraska "a dizzying tapestry... the band members display a wonderful disdain for musical boundaries." Key tracks include Beatlesque 'lt's Love' and psychedelic 'Mr.Wilson'.

JOHN CLARKE, BRYAN DAWE Great I interviews of 20th Century John Clarke made himself known to NZ as "Fred Dagg", here he shows his wit with 25 tracks from Australian TV where he lampoons serious political figures such as Dan Quayle, Bob Hawke, Joh Bjelke-Peterson etc. John Clarke at his best!

MADONNA The Immaculate Collection An ultimate compilation of Madonna hit videos with the added bonus of the 1 990 MTV Awards performance of 'Vogue'. The 14 tracks include 'Like A Virgin', 'Material Girl', 'Like A Prayer', 'Express Yourself', 'Papa Don't Preach' and'Borderline' etc.

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS They Might Be Giants The debutplbum has been reissued from the New York duo who recently toured here. 19 great weird tracks from 'Youth Culture Killed My Dog'to 'Put Your Hand Inside My Puppet Head'. A classic album from a group who take on youth culture's sacred cows with mocking glee.

ADAMSKI Dr.Adamski's Musical Pharmacy The space alien baby from England has unleashed his latest ecstacy house dance diet. Crucial doses are 'I Want You Back' (featuring Kurtis Blow), 'Killer' (featuring SEAL), 'Space Jungle' (Earthquake Mix) and 'Flashback Jack'.

NOTORIOUS Notorious The two founding members of Notorious, vocalist Sean Harris and guitarist/ multi-instrumentalist Robin George first met up in 1980 when Sean was fronting Diamond Head and Robin produced their cult smash song 'Sweet & Innocent'. Notorious?— "It's like pop sensibilities with a rock attitude," says George.

NATIONAL MAORI CHOIR Ka tu au /1 Stand Tall This renaissance of Maori Choral singing is an official project of the NZ 1 990 Commission, bringing together 30 regional singers from each of the 10 Maori canoes that migrated to NZ. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa said, "The National Maori Choir is the most stunning sound I've heard in a long long time."

SIMPLY RED VIDEO Let Me Take You Home (LIVE) Here are Simply Red at their best, live in hometown Manchester, March 1 990.There are new songs as well as their classic hits such as 'Holding Back the Years'and 'lf You Don't Know Me By Now' plus Bill Wither's 'Grandma's Hands' and Cole Porter's 'Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye'.

DEBBIE GIBSON Anything Is Possible After two multi platinum albums and three No.l USA hits, Debbie is back with 1 6 new tunes, including four co-written with Motown songwriting legend / Lamont Dozier. One of the co-writtdn tracks is the first single 'Anything is Possible'. Other key tracks are dance-powered (Jellybean produced) 'One Step Ahead'and'Reverse / Psychology'. y

GUY The Future The man who gave the world "The New Jack Swing", Teddy 'Groove Me' Riley, is back with his funky vocal group Guy. Here's a new album featuring their current dancefloor smash 'I Wanna Get With U'. Key tracks include'Teddy's Jam', 'Let's Chill', 'Total Control' and 'Her'. Crucial swingbeat and rap grooves.

TOO MUCH JOY Son of Sam I Am This is Too Much Joy's second album, originally released on indie label Alias in 1 989 and now released on prestigious new label Giant Records. This New York quartet have toured with Mekons and Meat Puppets. Key tracks include their remakes of L.L.Cool J's 'That's A Lie' and Terry Jacks' 'Season in the Sun' and 'Making Fun of Bums'.

MURPHY BROWN SOUNDS 60s Motown Compilation This collection of the most popular 60s Motown tracks (by the original Motown artists) includes 'You Keep Me Hangin' On', 'Superstition', 'Get Ready' (1990 remake), 'Tracks of My Tears", 'Love Child', 'Heard It Thru Grpaevine', 'This Old Heart of Mine' etc, plus Atlantic soul hit'Respect'.

PHIL COLLINS VIDEO Seriously Live in Berlin This massive concert (1 65 minutes) has Phil performing all his infamous radio hits, all the faves with a hot band including drummer Chester Thompson (Genesis). Tracks include 'Easy Lover', 'Sussudio', 'ln the Air Tonight', 'You Can't Hurry Love' etc.