City Of Sound

August '97

Melt

ARTIFICIAL JOY CLUB
MELT
CRUNCHY / INTERSCOPE INTSD - 90125, (CANADA 1997)
8

Contact:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/ajc/

Songs Of A Circling Spirit

TOM COCHRANE
SONGS OF A CIRCLING SPIRIT
EMI CANADA 7 2438 37239 0 4 (CANADA 1997)
4

On paper this album should work really well. 'Songs Of A Circling Spirit' is a largely acoustic rendering of some of Tom Cochrane and Red Rider's best known tunes recorded on the road last year. Given Cochrane's brand of mid west flavoured AOR all the elements are there to make a fine album but despite some tasty guitar work from Bill Bell the set tends to fall flat. There is the occasional spark of inspiration on a track like 'Paper Tiger' but largely the record seems to drag. Compare this album to either of Gowan's recent live CDs and you immediately find Cochrane's effort wanting. Despite the presence of Bell and a drummer Cochrane doesn't come anywhere near the passion and dynamism of a lone Gowan. Maybe if they hadn't wiped the audience from the recording (and I'm assuming this is what they did rather than recording this in some little studio or during sound checks) then the interaction may have helped things move along, Gowan's good humoured rapport with his fans is one of the best things about his CDs. Cochrane would do well to learn to do the same. Disappointing.

Stuff

HOLLY MCNARLAND
STUFF
UNIVERSAL USD-53075, (CANADA 1997)
7

After the very promising 'Sour Pie' EP Holly McNarland returns with her first full length set. Many of the elements that were previously only hinted at on the EP have come to fruition within the context of the full album. 'Numb' kicks off precedings, upbeat rock with a modern twist, Holly's vocals have a slight trace of Gwen Stefani to them but thankfully none of No Doubt's dreadful Ska tendencies. 'Elmo' goes form Sarah McLachlan-esque vulnerability to Alanis angst. Whilst those first two cuts are good 'Porno Mouth' is the albums outstanding number, a haunting laid back melody with gorgeous vocals and a deceptively slow building groove. 'Water' is pure McLachlan in atmosphere minus the folkiness. A pounding drum groove leads into 'Coward', which has a few parallels with the likes of River City People and a more intense Texas, indeed there is a much more straightahead rock vibe to 'Stuff' than might have been expected. That is with the exception of 'Mystery Song' which is totally unexpected and works brilliantly. With Holly's vocals simply chanting Enigma style over the top of a drum 'n bass rhythm with lush synths laying down the atmospherics this makes for a refreshing mid set interlude. Not to everyone's taste maybe but a brave departure nevertheless. 'Just In Me' gets back on track with raw guitars and distorted vocals, which continue on the down and dirty 'Twisty Mirror' with some mighty big riffing. The record bows out with the superb lilting acoustic strains of 'I Won't Stay'. 'Stuff' is a fine progression from 'Sour Pie' and deserves to do well.

Soulsex

SUSAN DIDRICHSEN
SOULSEX
WEF RECORDS, (USA 1995)
7

New York based Susan Didrichsen's debut album is a very classy collection. 'Sexuality' opens with some funky grooves, before picking up pace and building up to its crescendo. 'Intoxicated' continues in a light funk rock vein, while the equally light 'You'll Never Know' is more straightahead with some nice moody guitar lines and a fine vocal performance from Susan. Susan has a strong voice which reminds me a little of a gutsier Damhnait Doyle, and is equally at home on relative rockers like 'Man-O-War', sadly not a tribute to the loin cloth clad Kings Of Metal, and 'Chill', or the sultry 'Making Up For Lost Time' or the more mellow gospel tinged 'Spinning'. 'For Bear' is a piano based piece, without many Tori-isms which, half way through, picks itself up and turns into a more than decent rocker with some Joplin-esque wailing. A very fine debut.
Contact:
http://www.kspace.com/didrichsen

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Last update 1st August 1997
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