BLUE EYED SOUL POP

SHARLEEN SPITERI

Melody (Mercury Records) 0..

What’s the difference between Glasgow act Texas and its frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri? If listening to the latter’s debut solo album is any clue: very little. Wearing her Dusty Springfield influences proudly on her sleeve (once again!), the sultry Spiteri pops back to the Brill-Building and Motown days of the early 60s, her

5:3

1m comm moi

well beyond the piping community. HIS tunes are regularly played by folk artists of all kinds, and this tribute concert at Perth Concert Hall last September reflected that breadth. Naturally, pipes are prominent. with Allan MacDonald. Jarlath Henderson and Ross Ainslie among the

featured soloists. alongside the Atholl Highlanders Pipe Band and the National Youth Pipe Band.

Gordon's father. the inimitable Jock Duncan. periodically wanders off—microphone with his imaginary horses during his ebullient ‘The Plooin‘ Match'. Singers Maggie Maclnnes. Kris Drever and Dougie lvlacLean provide more conventional vocal contributions, while fiddler Duncan Chisholm, the mighty Session A9 and guests from Brittany and Asturias crank up the instrumental

consuming passions showcased on ‘Stop I Don’t Love You Anymore’ and the Shangri-Las-esque single, ‘All The Times I Cried’. With 20 years in the business, progress and originality have never been strong points for Sharleen and Co, but if retro-pop be your bag, ‘It Was You’ (co-produced with Bernard Butler) and the Nancy Sinatra- cloned rock’n’roller ‘l’m Going To Haunt You’ (featuring the twangs of former Los Straitjackets geezer, Kaiser George) might just be your cup of

tea. (Martin C Strong)

temperature. The disc captures something of the atmosphere of the occasion along with the music.

(Kenny Mathieson)

INDIE INFADELS

Universe in Reverse (Wall of Sound) 00..

Indie festive season is in full swing and the lnfadels' reinvention proves they‘re wise to it. On Universe in Reverse. produc 2r Youth turns their sound upside down. taking them out of the rave fields and into the main arena. After months on the road, their storming

return is signalled by the drum-rolls of their sophomores opener. But it doesn‘t stop there. Every song is a fiercely electrifying, well-crafted and memorable winner. Stand—outs include the anthemic adrenalised single ‘Make Mistakes'. the lyrically fantastic 'Play Blind' and chorus—

I

heavy 'Free Things for Poor People'. With crowd pleasers aplenty. gut-busting vocals. revved up guitars and infectious beats. this is one party the indie kids won't want to miss. Their radio-friendly sound has universal appeal and begs to secure their prominence.

(Eve Barlow)

POP LEON JEAN MARIE

Bent Out of Shape (Island Records) .0.

This talented Londoner must collect up a helluva lot of artists inside his dreadlocked head to conjure up such interesting pop brilliance. Leon's inspired opener forecasts the outrageOusly catchy hooks which lie ahead on his daring. eclectic debut. He warns on ‘East End Blues' that he can't be pigeon-holed. Too right he can't. Homage is paid to everything from the Specials' ska rhythms. Kylie/Britney bubble- gum synths (courtesy of ‘Bloodshy') and ‘Billie Jean'-esgue beats to nu-soul luxurious vocals. Prince-like ‘yeah-yeah' shrieks and Beatles psychedelic funk. All this tinged with an orchestral lounge vibe throughout and a welcome dash of formulaic Ronson horns. An addictive package to rival his contemporaries, this comes with a warning: it will be huge.

(Eve Barlow)

SPOKEN ELECTRO THE EX-MEN A Life of Love (Beanstalk Records) 0

At first. I took this to be a spoof. Why else would anyone rhyme ‘expressionism' with ‘jism"? What possible other reason could there be for someone to warble ‘a word is a picture/made out of

sound/a sound you can draw/in ink on the page.‘ as the lead guy does here on 'Wordcage'. Other 'tracks' have titles such as ‘Suck Her', ‘Now!‘ and ‘C'est Pas Grave'. Yes. that one is spoken in French. But then the truth dawned: these peeple are actually completely. totally. deadly serious. This ‘spoken electro' outfit were described by a reputable Sunday as ‘Underworld after six pints of mild.‘ I think I'd rather live out the rest of my days high on skag than allow The Ex-lvlen to sully my senses ever again. (Brian Donaldson)

HIP HOP ATMOSPHERE When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold (Rhymesayers) COO

The sixth studio album arrives from Slug and Ant. long time contributors of non- formula hip hop weirdness. but it ain't going to please everyone with its more polished slant. There's the live sounding funkster groove ‘Dreamer'. the pop hop cut ‘You' and 'Guarantees'. a moody guitar ballad that sounds a tad Chili Peppers.

But fear not. there's some killers that will satisfy the purists too. with the single 'Shoulda Known‘ with its stretched out bass with a dark vocal tinged with regret. plus 'The Skinny'. a more familiar, dark and moody beat. It‘s not Atmosphere in super dark mode. but maybe that's the way they planned it?

(Steve Glencross)

3—-l '1' Jul 2008 THE LIST 71