12th July 1999


Seeing as the weather's so nice (well, it is here), I shan't keep you long...only 2 singles worth getting in a soapy lather about this week.

Single of the Week

"Hanging Around" by The Cardigans

Not the seminal Stranglers punk classic (get on with it, grandad), instead this is a rather classy little number; a Garbage-style shiny black pvc skintight job with some sparkly Blondie-esque sequins stuck on for added glitz and glamour. A clockwork woodpecker rhythm, sparse electronic riff, just-got-out-of-bed vocals and a big guitar wig-out at the end all combine to produce by far and away the highlight of the sonic week. Blonde girl in the pink dress, she's just trying to impress us...(crap old punk "joke" - talk amongst yourselves).

Some good value from the b-sides too, spread over both CDs. First comes the Faithless remix of "My Favourite Game", which turns the speeding convertible of the original into a smooth cosmic hovercar of a track, speeding through distant galaxies with the Silver Surfer at the controls. Then, 3 and a half minutes in, the original's fantastic riff comes past like a comet and the song sets its controls for the heart of the sun. Not quite as impressive, but still poutingly attractive, is the Naid Remix of "Hanging Around", setting the song to a Michael Nyman style piano backing and letting it run around a deserted mansion at midnight. Finishing off CD1 is the video to "Hanging Around", satisfyingly arthouse and leftfield.

CD2 is home to the Jasmine St Claire mix of the a-side, a weird electro-metal sculpture of a treatment that is the sonic equivalent of a terrifyingly beautiful genetic reassembly mistake in the teleporter room. The original version of "Erase/Rewind" follows (you have practically half the LP by this point), then all is topped off by the video to "Erase/Rewind" - the "banned director's cut", no less. (Don't get too excited - it just means they all die at the end). Some nice promo shots of the band doing Blondie impersonations on the CD-ROM bit too.

Somehow, without us really noticing, The Cardigans have become one of the best rock bands around.

Rating: 10/10

The Rest

"Love's Got A Hold On My Heart" by Steps

Summer's here, and so are Steps, decked from head to toe in sun-kissed banana coloured outfits, all shiny teeth and lithe supple dancing (I'd better calm down, or I'll start getting all Britney Spears...). Musically, obviously, it is pop; the same kind of pop that Abba and Bucks Fizz did before them, and just as effervescently vital. The CD is also blessed with snippets from the joyfully cheesy video (featuring Lisa...), an instrumental which exposes the song for the fluffy lightweight muzak it is, and a fantastically camp "Wip't Up In The Disco Mix" (sic) of "Last Thing On My Mind".

Come on - it's only a laugh...

Rating: 7/10

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