20th October, 1997

A tasty, well rounded week - rather like a ripe tomato.

Single of the Week

"Mon Amour Tokyo" by Pizzicato Five

Every now and again you want a break from all the worthy posturing, epic string-laden opuses and serious chinrubbing rock and bounce around the room with a big cheesy grin on your face. Or at least you should. Pizzicato Five provide the perfect opportunity to do this with their cheezee brand of kitsch Japanese disco pop, and "Mon Amour Tokyo" is a prime example of their craft.

Starting off like "Je T'Aime Non Plus" with bontempi harpsichords snapping in the background, the song then gets grand designs of being the hippest 1960s Bond theme that never was ever, with its big beats and Barryesque bass drum. Forget all your drug-induced hedonism (behind the bike sheds - ask for a Mr S. Ryder) - this glorious glitzy stomp is where its at. If you loved Deee-Lite and St Etienne then this is for you. And spend most time with the Japanese language version - you can almost see the dayglo animated Hello Kittys jumping up and down at the school disco.

After the two versions of "Mon Amour", comes "Contact" a daft n direkt neon nightclub stomper that stomps around Europe with ten-storey platforms on. Last is "Happy Birthday", another Japanese language track that is a simple song with strings, vocals and lots of stop/start bits. Lift muzak for the elevators in the Tyrell Corporation building.

Rating: 10/10

The Rest

"Get Higher" by Black Grape

Put this on the stereo and 15 seconds later the dope fog comes drifiting out the speakers. Shaun Ryder floats around his own little world singing "gotta keep striving to get higher" as Ronnie and Nancy confess their drug crimes - and all to a phat and phunky beat. Featuring a nice meaty guitar riff not heard round Shaun's way since the Mondays' heyday, "Get Higher" sees everyone's favourite villainous crew back on form, setting controls for automatic and sitting back with a spliff the size of Nelson's Column. Do not listen whilst driving or operating heavy machinery.

B-sides are 2 mixes of a track called "Rubberband", one of which is a suitably elastic and lolloping number that prowls the alleys at midnight with a pharmaceutical glint in its eye and old Mondays records in its Walkman, the other a Chems-like track fronted by a lunatic. A bonus extra track consists of one of those enhanced CD-ROM things that I can never get to work. It could be the best thing ever and I'd never know...It's more likely to consist of images of Shaun gurning away like a spaced-out Fagin as usual though.

Rating: 9/10

"Tellin' Stories" by The Charlatans

The Christine Keeler picture on the front tells you a lot about the music inside: sexy, slightly sleazy and entirely in control. Title track to the Charlies' recent stormer of an LP, "Tellin' Stories" is a relaxed and relaxing rock-funk swagger through the band's familiar territory. With Tim sounding thoughtful singing over a whirling pattern of guitar and keyboard, the track is perfect late-night material, and a retro-but-modern classic. Get the blue lightbulbs out.

"Keep It To Yourself" is a dusty blues workout, complete with harmonica and widescreen production. Little more than a demo, it prepares the way for the fantastic "Clean Up Kid", with the Charlatans sounding more like the Stones than they ever actually did themselves. Like the a-side, this is no fast-paced stomper, but it has more hooks than a busload of fisherman and is cooler than anything you're likely to hear this week. "Thank You", recorded at the Phoenix, closes this swaggering release from baggy's best survivors with its incessant and driving rhythm and blues.

Rating: 9/10

"Digital" by Goldie featuring KRS One

Golide provides a sledgehammer backing to a mid-tempo KRS One rap on "Digital", a slammer that would have the Prodigy for breakfast. "UK drum and bass all in your face", KRS One rather unnecessarily raps as beats and bass explode around him like depth charges. Play this loud enough and it sandblasts your house, which is a nice side-effect.

No b-sides - only a radio edit and a remix.

Rating: 8/10

"Nothing" by Jaguar

Yet another passionate rock three-piece with Radiohead influences, Jaguar promise much with their passionate and heartfelt warblings, but fall just a little short with "Nothing". Just not a big enough tune, it comes damn close - close enough to be frustrating: "Nothing" should really be one of those songs that sets your spine a-tingling, not just your foot idly tapping. Nearly there, boys, but not quite.

"Feeling Free (demo)" is first b-side and is a pleasantly melancholic number that allows the vocalist to demonstrate a remarkably warm and versatile voice set against a suitably dramatic tune. "What You're Doing To Me" is next, a full-bodied song that sounds a little like a bullshit-free Kula Shaker. "Intro To Nowhere" closes the EP, and is a smoky trip-hoppy instrumental; more night-time urban soundscapes.

I think Jaguar's next single will be great.

Rating: 6/10

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