The New Music Report

Rip It Up, Issue 180, 1 July 1992, Page 13

The New Music Report

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ISLEY BROTHERS racks of Life Three of the legendary Isley Brothers are reunited here—Ronald Isley (vocals), Marvin Isley (bass) and Ernie Isley (guitar). Big names on the Iselys’ English language version of Ivan Lins’ ‘Brazil Wedding Song (Setembro) are Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Greg Phillinganes, Take 6 and Sarah Vaughan. Hot funk.

THE ZOO ; Shakin* The Cage A new release on the Capricorn label, featuring Mick Fleetwood on drums, vocalist Bekka Bramlett (daughter of Delaney & Bonnie) and guitar legend Billy Thorpe. This is tough high-energy rock, the sort of music that makes you jump into your convertible and drive much to fast. A formiddable live band watch for the title track as first single.

TALL TALES BUT TRUE . Revenge! Described as “The royalty of Sydney’s Independent rock bands” by Lynden Barber (Sydney Morning Hearld). Once again they work with producer Nick Mainsbridge (their fifth and there’s a duet with Margaret Urlich. This album’s an excellent follow-up to Shiver. A very significant trio from Australia with a superb album Revenge!.

EPHRAIM LEWIS Skin A new soulful sound from England, Ephraim (pronounced , E-frame) Lewis mixes soul gospel with jazz feels. “It’s a positive record, future-looking, about being open to spiritual opportunities,” says the singer. A stunning, effortless voice — technically impeccible. Check him out!

OCEANIC That Album by Oceanic Hailing from Liverpool, Oceanic is a blazing pop dance band who have had a UK indie smash with the kicking uptempo ‘lnsanity’, the biggest (Gold) indie dance track of ’9l. Other key tracks are ‘Wicked Love and the darkly romantic “Controlling Me’.

DAS EFX Dead Serious A crucial rap duo with such hot tracks as 'They Want EFX’ and the great title track ‘Dead Serious'. The executive producers on this project are the very cool EPMD. Way cool tracks include 'Brooklyn to T-Neck’, ‘Looseys’, ‘lf Only' (with amazing Stanley Turrentine jazz sample), ‘Mic Checka' and ‘Straight Out of the Sewer’. •

MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE My Friend the Chocolate Cake From Melbourne, David Bridie (and friends) come folk who wrote the music for their album whilst on holiday in rural New Zealand (Te Teko), that wouldn’t fit in with the Not Drowning, Waving format. An amazing recorded work with a unique line-up: piano, cello, mandolin, vilolin, acoustic guitar and drums. ■ . ~

CARMEL ... Good News This new album is a mixture of rootsy styles from the reggae raggamuffin ‘Your On My Mind’ (with guest toaster Crazy Joe) to soulful vocal styles. The album was recorded in a unique manner, live in a German classical studio with a jazz producer. Mixing and overdubs were then done later.

GOOD 2 GO Good 2 Go Five girls hanging out in a Hollywood nightclub and a guy asks if they wanna be stars? A fairy tale? But it’s true and the dude was the manager of Bell Biv Devoe and Keith Sweat. Produced by studio aces Dr Freeze & Spyderman (Color Me Badd, BBD), Luvebug (Salt N Pepa) and Stanley Brown (Christopher Williams). Listen here for 0 of the best dance soul & hip-hop grooves.

MARY COUGLAN Sentimental Killer . Ireland’s finest once again works with producer Erik Visser and mines similar themes performing such classics as —Jacques Brel's ‘Hearts’, Marc Almond’s 'There Is A Bed’, Leonard Cohen’s ode to lost love ‘Ain’t No Cure For Love’ and songs by John Mulhern (Christy Moore). Melancholic, at times harrowing highlighting Couglan’s artistry.

THE POGUES The Rest of the Best 1 4 more Pogues classics collected here — including ‘Summer in Siam', ‘Hell’s Ditch’, ‘Boys From County Hell’, ‘lf I Should Fall From Grace With God’, ‘Yeah Yeah Yeah', ‘The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn', ‘London Girl’ and the new single ‘Honky Tonk Women'.

SWEET LIZARD ILLTET Sweet Lizard llltet A band for the Lollapalooza generation from Hoboken — a hip-hop happening of funky rhythms and guitar freakery. Big on the East Coast, these guys mix street sass with free jazz suss; their influences range from reggae to rap and hardcore, key tracks: ‘Soule’, ‘Mutiny Zoo’, ‘Rat Funk’ and ‘freakdom’.

MILES DAVIS Doo-Bop ■_ 1 This is the last studio project Miles Davis completed before his death. It’s an adventurous collision of jazz and hip-hop that confirms his stature as a true musical innovator. In a sense a thematic sequel to his 1973 On the Corner LP where he paid tribute to James Brown and Sly Stone. Recorded as a collaboration with hip-hop’s Easy Mo Bee.

BRONX STYLE 808 Gramma’s Ghost This dude’s debut is an imaginative collision of genres and styles — mixing 70s soul, folk music, hip-hop and a dash of metal in a set of songs ranging from smoky ballads to fullon funk jams. Bob’s background is. as a hardcore rapper with Ice T’s Rhythm Syndicate. Now rap shares equal space with his singing and songs.

MINISTRY Psalm 69 Al Jourgenson and Paul Barker are one of the coolest I hippest bands in the USA scene at the moment. They’re currently touring on Lollapalooza USA tour with Chilis etc. First single' is way cool 'Jesus 1 Built My Hotrod’, kickstarted by some psychobabble from Butthole Surfer Gibby Haynes. The next big thing — this album’s a white-hot poker in the eye of Western Civilisation.

LEMONHEADS It’s A Shame About Ray From the USA cool scene, with their fifth album, a showcase of the talents of lead vocalist/composer Evan Dando. here he works with drummer David Ryan (played on Lovey) and bassist Juliana Hatfield (Blake Babies). Cool tracks: ‘Confetti’, ‘Rudderless’, ’Ceiling Fan in My Spoon’.

PERCY SLEDGE It Tears Me Up (Best Of) ■>-.£?, A digitally remastered (this year) collection of Sledge’s finest performances, with Al sound quality. 23 of his greatest soul tracks including ‘When A Man Loves A Woman’, ’Dark End of the Street’ (from Committments), ‘Warm & Tender Love’, ‘True Love ravels on a Gravel Road’ and lots of previously overlooked rarer tracks. Soul heaven!

Visit Your Participating Music Store At spm Sharp FRIDAY JULY 24 and view for the first time provocative (and banned) new PRINCE video single “SEXY M.F.”

WPA Difficult Loves Weddings Parties Anything fuse rock with folk and the Australian story telling tradition. The single ‘Father’s Day’ and ‘Step In Step Out’ were remixed in London by Hugh Jones. WPA were guests last year on the U2 tour and released an album of Sports I JoJo Zep covers. This album is their first for Australian (major) indie label rooArt.