Marcia Salomon - Bossa Nova From Brazil and Various Artists - Spirit Mountain - Authentic Music Of The American Indian (CookingVinyl) 27/08/2007

T: Two albums from Cooking Vinyl's International Music series, both released on the same day.

N: The first of these albums appears to be Latin American chillout, cafe culture coming fast and furious at the listener. While the second, an album that takes in music from the American Indian, is a sound that is clearly spiritual, where pan pipes echo and American Indians chant, almost as if their feet are dancing around your living room. But exactly why would I sit and listen to this? Certainly albums the listener has to be in the right mood to accept.

T: True, but didn't you feel almost humbled by the whole thing, as I did? We're used to our creature comforts here in our Western world, and within this music there is a kind of - as you say - "spiritual" being that is really quite moving. Sure, the Brazilian music is a lot easier to embrace, but the American Indian expressionism probably has more depth to it.

N: I know exactly where you're coming from. Why shouldn't this have its place, just as any other form of artistic expression. 7/10

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Los Mono - Somos Los Que Estamos (Sonic360) 21/08/2007

T: I'm flattered that they've stolen the sleeve idea from my old band Duffmonkeys, but, you know...

N: ...so he thinks, but it really doesn't matter either way, this was described to me as a "...slice of Chilean electro-funk", a "...fresh new sound with positive lyrics.". Well seeing these are sung in Spanish I'll have to take my contact's word for that, as I'm only familiar with the obscenities my girlfriend hurls at me from time to time, but certainly the group are cooking up a hot mix of funk led sounds that only the dead would fail to rise to and even that I wouldn't be too sure at from the deep bass on offer here. The entire outfit here would appear to have come from highly influential latin American bands making this a supergroup of sorts. Highly infectious and less anoying than Los Del Rio.

T: Indeed. They sound like Fun Lovin' Criminals in their "Loco" era, which shouldn't be sniffed at. I'm not sure how often I would choose to play this stuff though, to be honest. 7/10

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Jamie Cullum - In The Mind Of Jamie Cullum (District 6) 27/08/2007

T: Not strictly a Cullum album at all, this is in fact a compilation album of music that clearly inspired the enigmatic stage performer. It does include two Cullum originals in the shape of "I'd Probably Do It Again" and "After You've Gone" and the whole thing is a wholehearted reminder that jazz is the ivory tinkling maestro's music of choice. There are some interesting cuts included here though - after all who'd have expected Elbow or Donovan to make an appearance? Actually I'm not sure if that's the flowerpowered 1960s star or not, as he's listed on the sleeve here as "Donavan". Still, it's a pretty easy listen and good grounding for anyone making their first foray into jazz music.

N: Possibly more important as an album to help in the understanding of what has made, influenced and echoed Mr. Cullum. Is it enjoyable? Like a smooth coffee. Will it raise a few eyebrows? Hell yes, check the number offered by Laurent Garnier; I wasn't expecting that. Late night listening, a chillout album, or just one in the car that may avoid the possibility of roadrage. A great collection of tunes. 8/10

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Various Artists - SouthWestFour Summer Anthems (Seamless Recordings) 20/08/2007

N: I always like a good summer dance compilation, this being the official release for the SouthWestFour dance festivals. It comes crammed with choice cuts coooked rare. Come August bank holiday, tens of thousands of clubbers will be making their way to Clapham Common in London and Coopers Field, Cardiff, to party as if the future of modern day civilisation depended on it. This is an album of two parts, with the first CD in this double album being "a trip through some of the best innovative dance music out there", where the likes of Tim Deluxe rub shoulders with the Mighty Dub Katz and the Shapeshifters. The second CD "is all about peak time tunes, chunky electronic basslines and killer hooks". Each of those DJs performing at SouthWestFour this year had been asked to submit their favourite tracks of the summer, and in the process provided an incredible list of music from which most of SoutWestFour: Summer Anthems was compiled. Now I realise Tone, that this wouldn't be your usual tipple, but have you got anything to say?

T: I don't mind the stuff on the album to be honest; it's just that a lot of the dance fraternity are rather pretentious for my liking. Watch any of those programmes about people going clubbing in Ibiza and I generally find that the vast majority of blokes are utter wankers who love themselves too much and would be impossible to have a good time with, and the girls are all sex mad sluts who are scarier than the blokes. As for the music, as I said it's listenable, but it's the same noise I could make by banging the table with my fist repetitively for two hours. If you like, I can do just that, while we're listening to the other stuff.

N: That's a rather sweeping statement. With that, surely all the fans of Blink 182 are spotty, teenage adolescents, and well, if you haven't met fans of Marilyn Manson, you can't fail to be amused by them as you spot two walking on the other side of the street. Too much black to be good for them on a sunny day.

T: Yes but at least those fans are into the actual MUSIC their artist of choice makes. With the clubbers, the girls don't care how many beats they've got as long as he has a big dick, and the lads just use the music as a soundtrack to starting fights and putting notches on their bedpost. Not that I'm jealous, you understand...

N: Now again, another generalisation. Look at the cover of the album. That's just another set of festivalgoers, and I've never seen clubbers carrying beetroots on their nights out...

T: When did YOU last go clubbing? It's all the rage these days.

N: 1987. Why? Has it changed? 7/10

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Various Artists - NineteenEightySeven (Filthy Little Angels) 13/08/2007

Now this is something that really excites me. As a label 'filthylittleangels' have been cooking up what I can only describe as a treat for sometime now and are in possession of a quite vast catalogue of both paid-for and free downloads, as well as what looks like a singles club. Championed by Radio 1 DJ Hew Stephens, with playbacks available on the label's myspace, it's great to hear what he describes as a "DIY label..." and with such great and inovative music available surfing their site is like being a kid in a candy shop once again. But enough of me, what do the panel think?

T: Now, if you're going to put out a compilation album of cover versions, THIS is the way to do it. A bulging casket of respectful workings of classic tunes from 1987 and vastly superior shapings of previously pitiful ones from the same year. Amongst the ones being shaken into a new lease of life are T'Pau's "China In Your Hand" and Huey Lewis and the News's "Hip To Be Square", both of which have been improved dramatically. Others, like The Smiths' "A Rush and a Push and the Land is Ours", have been given faithful makeovers and it's hard to dislike any of the tracks on offer here, although it has to be said that I'm not convinced any song by Rick Astley can be made credible, and of all the tracks to choose from, that's probably the weakest, unsurprisingly.

N: An excellent album, well conceived and featuring tunes you'd either loved or loathed back in '87, performed by artists you''ve never heard of, laying bare their souls as they perform songs you've not necessarily ever given a second thought to. The bands here have given their own interpretation on songs and done a tremendous job. The year marked "Andy Warhol's passing, Bill Gates' first billion and the beginning of Margaret Thatcher's Third Reich". It's available on download only and it's free! What are you waiting for? 9/10

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Various - Hallam Joe o.s.t. (Domino) 13/08/2007

An album released in support of the forthcoming film 'Hallam Foe', "a magical story of redemptive love and life on the rooftops of Edinburgh...", alright so this does seem to echo our present frame of mind (somewhat out there, where I'm not quite sure), but that should in no way stop you from either seeing the film or hearing this wonderful collection of songs.

N: Now at this point in time, not having seen the film, this is exactly what these songs are without the context of the movie. But with Sons and Daughters rubbing shoulders with the likes of Clinic, the soupy dub of Future Pilot aka and Psapp, not to mention old favourites like Orange Juice and Woodbine, this eclectic sample of songs might suggest an obscure underground flick.

T: It might indeed, but there are enough classy tunes here to warrant its Silver Bear Award for Best Music In A Film at the Berlin Film Festival, and it's notable that Franz Ferdinand have written a song, "Hallam Foe Dandelion Blow" specifically for the movie itself. Enjoyable and at times poignant. 7/10

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Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks (Fiction) 06/08/2007

Its release brought forward due to popular demand, 'Made Of Bricks' is the cheeky debut album from the suburban poet made singer Kate Nash. Like her mentors The Arctic Monkeys before her, this is another musical phenomena in which her fans have dictated her passage to the big stage of international music and all this from an album that is nothing more than a musical scrawl. When I say this it's not that I particularly hate the album, I'm just a little bamboozled at what is presented here. Like a five year old taking her crayons to her mother's wardrobe, this whole affair is quite brash, so when she sings "Why you being a dickhead for? Stop being a dickhead. Why you being a dickhead for? You're just fucking up situations..." is a passage that is not grammatically correct, is too wordy and comes at the listener, for the first time, quite unexpectedy.

This singer who has been described a "punk-pop princess" has given us here a 12, or 13 track album, depending of course whether you discover the bonus track by listening all the way through, full of rich colourful swirls, even more colourful language and that frankness that will either annoy or tickle her listeners fancy. This is pulp-pop, in which the music although relevant to her space and time, is even more irrelevant the more you listen, or should that be more accepted? And yet I think she's hit the "nail on the head" in producing an album that does possess moments of beauty like the opening chords of the 3rd track, 'Mouth Wash', whilst at the same time creating the annoying track that follows, the previously mentioned 'Dickhead' and maybe even the "Shit Song", her words not mine, that follows.

Alright I'll say it, be them The Ordinary Boys, Lilly Allen or in this case Kate Nash, I'm falling for this very listenable album, although I'm wishing I could put an episode of 'The Klangers' to follow 'Foundations', instead of telling us that her beau for the evening (possibly) had been "sick on her trainers". Maybe not exactly the future of music, but when a poet brings her work to the recording studio, perhaps we should all take note. 7/10

Nick James

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Eugene McGuinness - The Early Learnings Of (Double Six) 06/08/2007

N: It is said that while "Eugene McGuiness was comtemplating a career in fine art (thankfully for the label) he made a dramatic u-turn and moved to Liverpool to make music instead." Well although Lennon may've been born there, his was art that first led him into music, so that u-turn may not have been completely unheard of, but may've been a more lucrative one, I suppose depending on how good he was at fine art? This is music that is certainly lyric led and by a voice that has been described as "mesmerising" (?), well ok I'll continue to take in the album...

T: I can see exactly where your confusion is coming from. Lyrically, it's of a very high calibre, but I'll be honest, the album plods so much it's difficult to really get into it. In fact, it has more plod than a Noddy convention.

N: So what you're saying is that the album is not big on ears...

T: Groan. 5/10

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Steveless - Mistakes In All The Right Places (Cherryade) 06/08/2007

T: Do you think our old friends have been plundering old Cramps B-sides, as well as revisiting "Hex Enduction Hour" amongst other Fall nuggets? If they have, then they clearly decided to just play a LITTLE bit of the tune and then bung a load of feedback in there to see the track out. Likeable lightning quick bursts of energy are sat uncomfortably with tuneless noise, yet somehow the whole thing works. If you know any people who listen to Heart FM on a regular basis, you should play this at them at full volume, just because they deserve it.

N: Never failing to amuse, even the sub 20 minute content over 12 tracks can't fail to raise a smile. Steveless again show they have balls the size of melons in releasing even what Mark E Smith might avoid. This artist's charm comes at the listener like a 4 wheel drive does at a Glasgow airport. Three cheers for the independence of Steveless. Purely wonderful. 9/10

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Mexican Institute Of Sound - Pinata (Cooking Vinyl) 06/08/2007

T: The rather eccentric mixture of songs on this album is not altogether unsurprising when you look at the roster of featured artists - Chris Frantz from Talking Heads and the Tom Tom Club, Argentinean proteges of Ian Brown Babasonicos, and the inventive Japanese band Fantastic Plastic Machine. It all adds up to something of a carnival atmosphere which at times is quite brilliant, whereas at others the album can be royally ridiculous. It's a fascinating ride if nothing else, and it's refreshing to know that North Central America has an unusual alternative scene of its own. Bizarre and at the same time a laid back soundscape which is as relaxing as it is confusing.

N: Whereas when we heard Rairbirds' original mixture of sounds, here we endure layered samples that go to build a pattern of music for MIS to present. If Rairbirds was tiresome, then exactly where does that leave Camilo Lara's Mexican Institute Of Sound? A clever jigsaw, or just another "La Bamba"? Perhaps my feet should have the last word, as I sit here, they are dancing to the music.

T: But you used to dance to "Hello" at the school discos, so what does that say? And you were on your own...

N: It was Pigbag, and I was always by the wall. Don't forget that. 7/10

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Rairbirds - Rairbirds 1 (One Little Indian) 06/08/2007

Not unfamiliar to the ears of those like Pete Tong, Mary-Anne Hobbs or Jo Whiley, XFM and even Timo Maas, Josh Wink and Danny Howells, Rairbirds first scored a hit when a demo of theirs made it into the clutches of Rupert Parkes aka Photek and set the wheel in motion. Rising to "pioneers of the organic scene", using a sound created without samples, following a long and arduous time spent working and re-working their sound, Rairbirds now bring forth a full length album that takes in influences from much of what the dance scene has to offer, as well as a more obscure influence of Acid Jazz, blended to create a sound that is almost commercial and yet not quite. This is 'Rairbirds 1'.

N: It's easy to turn away from this album, if you don't endure what your senses tell you to expect. Listening further after having first done exactly that, this is an album of many shimmering facets that can at first seem too rich to handle, but ultimately lead you away from what your senses have imagined. This is a dance album, produced with the experience of a palette full of other artists' influences.

T: Do you not find it gets a little tiresome after a while though? I mean, it has its moments, but when they are clearly trying to imitate Maxi Jazz it feels cumbersome and something of a pale pastiche.

N: Ok, well maybe that makes my awkwardness with "other artists' influences" even more relevant. 6/10

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The Neutrinos - One Way Kiss (Wetnurse records) 06/08/2007

T: I'm astonished, to be frank. This band hails from Norwich, of all places, yet they sound like they're from a planet inhabited by luminaries of the alternative eighties scene where Siouxsie Sioux is their queen. Karen Reilly's voice is positively dripping with attitude and the dirty, fuzzy guitars growl so ferociously it's almost as if you're being attacked by them. If this isn't in the Atomicduster Top Ten list for the end of the year, I will eat us both.

N: This album is a juxtaposition of male and female. The mechanics of instruments played paired with the girlish vocals of Karen Reilly make this a triumph that could just as well be shouted from the top of the city's cathedral. East Anglia so often misses out in the music stakes, but when they ARE noticed, it's a pleasure in the pain these bands emit. 9/10

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Lo-fidelity Allstars - The Best Of - Warming Up The Brain Farm (Skint) 30/07/2007

N: The number that introduces this album, "Warming Up The Brain Farm", from the debut album "How To Operate With A Blown Mind", would appearto have more in common with Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange" from the dialogue at the start, and then proceeds to echo much of whatSkint has become synonymous with.

T: I'm pleased to say that the latter album would still be amongst my top 100 if I were to make a list of my collection. Dark, danceable electronic pop music, and I'm not just saying that because my mate John plays drums for them. Putting my allegiances aside for one moment, I have to admit I prefer them in their earlier incarnation when they still had Dave's half mumbled rants and a controversial edge to their sound. That's not to say the later stuff is without merit, but there is more of a twisted Northern Soul style bent to proceedings by then. Listening back to the music on offer here, I'd forgotten just how exciting it all was. Just a great compilation really.

N: But it should be said that rather than a goodbye, I understand that this is to mark a new dawn for the band, and fresh cuts will be heard shortly. 8/10

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Sum 41 - Underclass Hero (Mercury Records) 23/07/2007

T: Apparently Sum 41 were rescued from bombs and gunfire by a United Nations worker recently, while they were filming a documentary in the Congo with the non-profit group War Child Canada. The album is named in honour of their mortal saviour, but would he have been better off leaving them there? To be fair, Sum 41 have never been a band who have instilled a great deal of wrath in me. Their brand of punk pop is upbeat, carefree and a million miles away from the oh-so-serious attitude put across by other bands of a similar ilk. Whilst I wouldn't choose to listen to this myself, they are undoubtedly great connoisseurs of the power chord and would probably be good company at the local.

N: Using the new Swingometer, as we are today, that being whether or not the music scares the cat. To gauge a benchmark, we took Sash's 1997 album "It's My Life", where I'm afraid she took an immediate dislike to, promptly leaving our listening room. She'd probably heard it before. Now in the case of Sum 41's "Underclass Hero", this was a slow burner, and it took three songs before she withdrew to the patio and took shelter underneath the barbecue, but in human terms, when I first heard this album, it immediately threw images of scenes from Hollyoaks, and I agree with Tone. It's not absolutely nasty, well written songs, albeit in a teenage mindset and actioned well. However, after being sustained to an almost full album, my senses were beginning to wear.

T: What a load of waffle.

N: You'll be grateful to know that the cat has now left the building.

T: What's that you're cooking on the barbecue? 6/10

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