mo' better beats

Rip It Up, Issue 194, 1 September 1993, Page 29

mo' better beats

ing rhythm section could be Al Jackson and Duck Dunn. Some of the guitar solos remind me of Son Seals or Albert Collins' ringing notes but McCray can twist them sideways. Where Collins has been a bit lazy recently playing to formula, this dude is burning with originality and variation. The opening and title track is a musical map of Memphis and sets the style of ringing Hammond, swinging horns, sweet BVs and searing guitar. McCray sings with a cool southern soul sound crossed with a northern big city growl. Tighter than a Tory fiscal policy, this is one great album and coincidentally is dedicated to the late Albert King and the much underrated and sadly ignored Wayne Bennett. Contemporary electric blues at its storming best. JOHN PILLEY THE YOUNG GODS Live Sky Tour (Play It Again Sam) In case anyone still hasn't got the message, the Young Gods are NOT an identikit Wax Trax industrial disco troupe. They're one of the most gut wrenching ROCK bands in the world, powered by live drums and using samples to reach bass depths and set off treble shocks that "conventional" musicians can only dream of. And what's more they write utterly bloodthirsty songs; right now I can think of nothing that equals 'Jimmy' (the only song from their incredible first album) for sheer rocket propulsion. So if a live album was ever a good idea for anyone it is for them. The songs from TV Sky, their least distinctive record (it’s basically a massive recontstruction of 70s metal) work better this way than they did in the studio; they're sped up to body breaking point, and for all their (comparative) crudity they burn out of control. It's actually the two more delicate songs from the album of Kurt Weill covers, along with the 14 minute epic 'Summer Eyes' that seem more out of place; the stuff from L'Eau Rouge ('La Fille de la Mort' is spectacularly rearranged as 'Chanson Rouge') complements the most recent material perfectly in what's basically a showcase for the joyous physical power of this preposterously under-rated band. MATTHEW HYLAND

TONY TONI TONE Sons of Soul The Brothers Tony are back, actually the Wiggins Brothers are back and noneof them are called Tony. I like this band they're so damned funky. Intelligent too, without getting too serious, these boys know how to cut loose. Thealbumopensstronglywith 'lf I Had No Loot' (their first radio single) sampling KRSI, Ice Cube and Eddie Floyd's 'Knock On Wood', and

carries on from there. Other choice cuts include 'My Ex-Girlfriend', 'Tonyies In The Wrong Key', and 'Dance Hall' which lifts 'We're In This LoveTogether'. TonyToniToneknow their groove thang, check this out. ****DM 2 UNLIMITED No Limits 2 Unlimited have about as much street cred as Greer Robson yet the

seem to sell more records than any other techno group. This is their second album and with such radio hits as 'No Limit' and 'Tribal Dance' already taken from this album it's boundtosellbythetruckload. Okay, the songs may be naff, Ray can't rap to save himself and Anita screeches too much but they seem to have come up with a formula that pleases every Sharon and Tracey in clubland. This is already being played in every Top 40 club from Whangarei to Nelson. “SAMPLE GEE (By the way, have you heard Greer Robson's solo effort? It makes Kylie sound like Aretha Franklin) swv Right Here From their album It's About Time, this single has HIT written all over it. How can they lose when they've managed to sample 'Human Nature' from Michael Jackson? Okay, the kiddie sex thing doesn't help but he hasn't been convicted yet so until then, this song is going to be heard on radios everywhere. The 'Human Nature Mix' by Teddy Rileyis just one of seven, the next best being 'Funkman' by Lord Finesse ***+DAK MADISON

FINESSE AND SHOWBIZ 64 Crayons

Hard on the heels of Snow comes this Canadian rap/funk/techno duo. Yes, they've got their bases covered. The guys try hard, have a great posse behind them, some good beats, but overall: ho-hum, sorry chum. There's nothing here to lift these guys to international success, but then I've been wrong before. *“ND'A JADE One Woman II D EXTREME Cry No More The US churn out these ballads like there is no tomorrow. I'm sure they must have a production line with musicians hired to write the slowest schmaltziestlovesongsthey can think

of. Youknowwhy? Becausetheysell millions. These tracks are (in a word) bollocks! Musictogotosleepto. For an education in real love songs try a Luther Vandross album. ‘(EACH) GEE DANCE 2 TRANCE Power of American Natives Thistrackistakenfromthe besttrance album. I've heard all year —- Moonspirits. Jam el Mar and DJ Dag create a four to. the floor techno anthem to DJ Dag's heroes with North American tribal beats, pan flutes, and a storming vocal. SINGLE OF THE MONTH. ***** gee GIFTED & BROWN So Much Soul I know they got soul cos I managed to catch them live last summer and they were stonking. This Wellington rap/funk crew know how to get the party started right, and this is well worthy of massive airplay. It's - a straight out party jam, heavy on the bass, and matched with a good anthem rap and fine vocals from Mara Finau. ***NICK D'ANGELO / MICHELLE GAYLE • Looking Up I was really disappointed when they moved Easterners from Primetime

to Sunday afternoon [About 10years ago Gee!]. What a great program it is, but anyone with a half decent Saturday night won't be up in time to see it midday Sunday.' Anyway Michelle. Gayle is from Eastenders but unlike most soapsters come popsters she can actually sing. (Have I mention the Greer Robson effort?). This is a great soul track with a swingbeat version by SP and a house mix by Westend. Mai FM should be playing this but they're not, so buy it! **** GEE RAVEN SYMONE That's What Little Girls Are Made Of Okay bub, for the Homey Heart see if you can tell us which of tonight's ladies said what: "Raven looks so cute she should get her own sitcom" or "The beats and rhymes were right on time" or "Gadzooks—lt's Kriss Kross's baby sister!" ***dm DEF DAMES DOPE It's Alright ; Remixed by the 2 Unlimited bods, this single is pretty similar stuff. Boring techno for those who like their lyrics deep (not!). File next to AB Logic and 2 Unlimited. *+ GEE