MO BETTER BEATS

Rip It Up, Issue 210, 1 February 1995, Page 35

MO BETTER BEATS

L BAHA MEN Just A Sunny Day A < y - . . . . .Z -z’ .! • Written and produced by Lenny Kravitz, this is a fine slice of summer pop indeed. The BaHa Men are just lampin’ in sunny Jamaica and making the most of paradise. There isn’t really anything new about this , but it’s done, with style and finesse. Kravitz may well have ; * .-I. .'"i. ■■t*. .' ~f ™" wl — _ l^‘-,*H!ff I HIMHW given this band the break they needed. ' ' -' ' ' . ' ' '. 7<- • ' - s ( MASSIVE ATTACK Protection ) - • -• x x ? x- ' ■ " ' ~ - Nelle Hooper (ex-Soul II Soul) produces the FT Mi ma. \r~ .XJ~*,7TT™KF mr * I * rT WT. 1 ■ IJ.'.. "*,'*?■ latest single off the new Massive Attack album. This time it’s new gal Tracey Thorn doing the vocals, and she sounds great over MA’s trademark groove. Not as funky as the stuff that made them famous — Protection is an indication of the new sound MA have taken up since the departure of original vocalist Carleen Anderson. ( MADONNA Take a Bow ■ . ■ -. ’ .. ■ Her. latest album, Bedtime Stories, has MhaA ■ — — "i ft r; hi— yfc—ail flwqu if p ' y i .JW— i«rfl taken a beating from some critics, but, since I haven’t been given a copy (Warner Music - Hellooooo!!), I can’t comment. All I know is I enjoyed the first single, ‘Baby’s Got A Secret’ (particularly the ‘Dan-o-rama’ mix), and this ain’t bad either. Mind you, I always see them on video first, which kinda helps! Written and produced by Babyface and Madonna, it’s ' another ballad with an edge to it musically (but not much lyrically), thanks to Madonna masjmf*— i— I tering the ‘tortured voice sound. Q TLC Creep ~ ) Okay, here’s an admission that’s going to get me into trouble — it’s not very PC (blame it on Nuttin’. Nyce). Every time I hear this track I wanna go out and rob banks in the vain hope that maybe, just maybe, I might one day have enough money to buy the affections of one of these super-fine women. Any one will do — they are all sooo lovely. And don’t they know it. Last year, Left Eye burnt down her boyfriend’s mansion because he pissed her off. And he didn’t press charges! They must

be good. Seriously, this song reeks of sensuality. Just in case you get over excited, there’s a ‘safe sex’ rap thrown in at the end. Single of the month.

REDNEX Cotton Eye Joe

It’s interesting to note the lengths DJs go to to find a new dance ‘sound’. Personally, Audio Murphy's yodelling never quite worked for me, but The Grid’s ‘Swamp Thing’ was excellent. Rednex have also dipped down to the bayou for their inspiration and the result is... interesting. Mixes include the ‘Madcow Mix’ and the ‘Overworked Mix’ (good), but the original Cajun-style version works the best.

N-TRANCE Turn Up The Power

Mindless techno-pop of the ilk now playing at clubs and aerobic classes nationwide. There might be nothing new about this, but it’s done well and grows on you. A straight hi-BPM beat with cheap lyrics — N-Trance will have to work hard with their follow-up if they .don’t want to be shown the X-lt.

ARROW Hot Hot Hot

David Johansen did a version of this in the 80s, so I guess we’re due for another outing of this New Orleans standard. This time the emphasis is on ‘World Carnival’, ie. very heavy on the percussion. Listening to the full mix, I wasn’t sure if I was in Rio, Rarotonga or Notting Hill. Obviously someone thought it was too ethnic for the dancefloor (it isn’t), so Les Adams sweeps in for the floor-friendly ‘Outrageous Mix’. It’s not bad either, but he’s replaced the live percussion with studio bass and drums.

NUTTIN’ NYCE Down 4 Whateva J

A bit soon to start sampling Soul II Soul I would’ve thought, but, judging from the chart success this track is receiving, I guess I don’t know nuttin’. Yes it’s good, but it’s really just a straight lift of ‘Back To Life’, with new verses added. And oh, what lyrics: “I’m down for whatever / I’m down for whatever / I’m down for whatever / I’m down for whatever ...” Pleeease! These girls have got nuttin’ to say other than they’re available for whatever yo’ dick fancies.