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MONDAY, APRIL 28
 CRAIG
DAVID FEATURING STING - RISE AND FALL: Featuring elements
of Shape of My Heart, this is really just a Sting single
given a Craig David makeover. The flowing acoustic guitar which
made the original single so beguiling is still very much to the
fore, while David's distinctive vocal style and fame driven lyrics
lend it a far more mature feel than much of the artist's earlier
work. The presence of Sting, in the background, is also an added
bonus. I'm not usually a fan of Graig David, but as background
music, this is a better effort than usual and not a bad listen.
 MANKATO
- FLESH AND BONE: This was, actually, released a couple of
weeks ago, but we thought it would be a good time to catch up
with it. Mankato, also known as Darren Berry, is a feelgood slice
of folk-pop, with catchy choruses and lyrics and a slight, happy
feel. Not a million miles away from the style of songwriting epitomised
by Badly Drawn Boy (in Spitting in the Wind mode), this is a sharp
EP that could herald the arrival of the latest hot British talent.
Flesh and Bone, in particular, is the type of track which starts
out likeable, with its well-mixed blend of acoustic guitars and
synthesizers, and ends up being a really great listen by the third
time you've heard it. Well worth seeking out, if you haven't already.
MONDAY, APRIL 21
 DELAYS
- NEARER THAN HEAVEN (Single of the week): Hailing from Southampton,
The Delays are Greg Gilbert (lead vocals/guitar), Aaron Gilbert
(keyboards/backing vocals), Colin Fox (bass guitar/backing vocals),
and Rowley (drums), and their debut single, Nearer Than Heaven,
is generating quite a buzz among alternative radio DJs. Composed
of lots of chirpy harmonies and chiming guitars, and with a really
distinctive vocal style, this is a terrifically uplifting, and
completely mesmerising debut, which more than justifies their
selection for Geoff Travis's revitalised Rough Trade Records.
Think The Hollies crossed with The La's for what to expect, and
you might be somewhere close. (Jack Foley)
 THE
WHITE STRIPES - SEVEN NATION ARMY: The first single to emerge
from The White Stripes' new album, Elephant, is
a suitably timely reminder of why this Detroit-based blues-rock
duo continue to be so highly regarded. Sounding a bit like The
Rolling Stones of the psychadelic Seventies era, Seven Nation
Army explores the world of gossip and rumour, making several
references to the question marks which still hang over their own,
mysterious relationship. Jack White's distinctive vocal style
continues to be as fiery as ever, but the record itself is much
more of a slow builder, courtesy of a prowling base line and the
appearance of an octave guitar. The CD also boasts two completely
exclusive White Stripes B-sides - a cover of the Brendan Benson-penned
'Good To Me', and a Jack White arrangement of traditional
song 'Black Jack Davey'. (Jack Foley). Click
here
to order Elephant
 BADLY
DRAWN BOY - ALL POSSIBILITIES: Badly Drawn Boy releases the
third single, All Possibilities, from his album ‘Have
You Fed The Fish?’. It is optimistic, both in lyrics,
‘all possibilities, are landing at my feet’,
and in its energetic, happy tone. This is a great summer track,
that’s arrived just in time for the good weather. With its
lively beat, soaring strings and dynamic trumpets, it’s an
excellent antidote for much of the boring pop that’s dominating
the charts. Though Gough’s vocal style remains deadpan and
uninspiring throughout, the music is polished, intelligent, and
great fun. (Heather Metherell).
 DMX
- X GON GIVE IT TO YA: Taken from the soundtrack to DMX's
latest movie, Cradle 2 The
Grave, this accurately depicts the type of music it is - fight
music for a fight movie. Tough, raw, and bursting with attitude,
this features a typically hard vocal from the rapper, laid down
over one of the dirtiest, most aggressive hip-hop beats of the
year. Imagine Jet Li laying waste to a room full of Ultimate Fighters,
and you might imagine the type of music that would best fit in.
This does so, perfectly. Fun in small doses, but ultimately pretty
hollow when taken away from the movie. (Jack Foley)
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 AQUALUNG
- IF I FALL: Aqualung take time out of their current European
tour with David Gray, to bring us their third single ‘If
I Fall’, taken from their debut album ‘Aqualung’.
One of the highlights of the album, this is a gorgeous track,
beginning with the simple layering of two note guitar samples,
and gradually building in momentum and volume as the song reaches
its climax, in luscious, multi-layered harmonies. Matt Hales sings
tentatively, of a mixture of fear and excitement that must be
familiar to him, after his sudden rise to fame last year. Listen
to this stunning track with the volume turned up full, to appreciate
some truly gorgeous songwriting. (Heather Metherell)
MONDAY, APRIL 14
 BLUR
- OUT OF TIME (Single of the week):
Out Of Time symbolizes everything we have come to expect from
Albarn and co - thoughtful, progressive, timely and, above all
else, masterful. Achingly beautiful, Blur remain as essential
as ever. (Jack Foley) Click here
to pre-order the new album, Think Tank...
 MADONNA
- AMERICAN LIFE:
Madonna has a habit of jumping on bandwagons, and her new single
shows she hasn’t changed. We’ve seen her go from material
girl, to vamp, to earth mother, to cowgirl, and, most lately,
to Bond girl. Now it seems R&B is the way to go, mixed with
a little electro-pop for luck. The lowest point comes in the form
of a dreadful rap, with the daft lyrics: ‘I do yoga and
pilates and the room is full of hotties, so I’m checking
out the bodies and you know I’m satisfied’. It’s
about as cringe-worthy as watching your Dad try to break dance.
(Heather Metherell)
Extra details... The single comes in a double CD format,
with remixes from Paul Oakenfold (as hard and dirty as you might
expect), Missy Elliot, and Peter Rauhofer’s American Anthem,
parts 1 and 2. Click here
to order the Missy Elliot remix CD, or click here
to listen to the track in our AV room...
 THE
POLYPHONIC SPREE - LIMITED EDITION 12" - The Polyphonic
Spree show some different dimensions to their music on a special
release of Soldier Girl, featuring remixes from the brilliant
Death in Vegas, and up and coming hip-hop artist, RJD2. While
the original is as light-hearted and lively as the band itself,
the Death in Vegas remix brings a darker, more sinister side to
the track. RJD2 takes a unique approach, with an old skool twist,
as The Spree are supported by a drum machine, synth horns and
relentless Jean Michelle Jarr-style keyboards. The track ends
up sounding overworked, and the simple joy of the original song
is lost completely. (Heather Metherell). Click here
to listen to the remixes
 GOLDFRAPP
- TRAIN:
Goldfrapp are back, with a new sound, a new image, and their
new single, Train. It begins like the Moloko track, Indigo, with
a glam rock bass line; while the increasing volume cleverly gives
the impression they’re approaching from the distance. This
is much livelier than their previous material, and proves the
‘odd couple’ of the music scene, are branching out and
experimenting with different musical styles. (Heather Metherell)
 PAFFENDORF
- CRAZY, SEXY, MARVELLOUS:
One aimed purely at the dancefloor contingent, Paffendorf's follow-up
to the hugely successful trance tune, Be Cool, is a suitably energetic
slice of Euro electronica which has its eye clearly on the sweaty
Ibiza/Cream crowd. Contrary to the opening line, however, this
is nothing special. (Jack Foley) Click here
to listen to a sample of the track in our AV Room.
ALSO RELEASED THIS MONTH:
CAESARS - JERK IT OUT*: order
QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE - GO WITH THE FLOW: order
RICHARD ASHCROFT - BUY IT IN BOTTLES: order
BETH ORTON - THINKING ABOUT TOMORROW: order
HARRY - UNDER THE COVERS EP: order
* Symbolises previous singles of the week.
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