Gillingham, Kent, UK (By Mikey:
[email protected])
RECORD OF THE WEEK
Radiohead - There There With their highly anticipated 'Hail To The Thief' album just around the corner, Radiohead return this stunning week with first taster 'There There', a single that some are already describing as a return to the band's, what shall we say, slightly more accessible sound. Retaining all of Radiohead's musical signatures, and finding a middle ground somewhere between 'Kid A' and 'OK Computer', 'There There' serves as a stunning reminder of why the band remain one of the most challenging around not-to-mention a mouth watering taster of what's to come from that album. And the video for the single is very dark and gritty compelling viewing.
HOT SHOT RECORD
XTM & DJ Chucky Presents Annia - Fly On The Wings Of Love Catchy trance cover of the Olsen Brothers' 'Fly On The Wings Of Love' (Eurovision Danish winner in 2000). XTM consist of Spanish brothers Xasqui and Toni Ten who under their Ten Productions guise have already built up an extensive domestic and international remix CV. Here the duo debut on the Serious label with a serious slice of hi-energy trance. Already rocking the more uplifting dancefloors out there, 'Fly On The Wings Of Love' is another sing-a-long trance nugget from a label that seems to be churning them out at the moment.
Abs - Stop Sign Having successfully struck out on the solo path with last single 'What You Got', ex-5ive member Abs returns this week with 'Stop Sign, yet another pitch-perfect pop number. A re-invention of a Northern Soul Classic (the original version was by Mel Wynn & The Rhythm Aces in the late 60's), 'Stop Sign' sans Abs is an upbeat slab of upbeat dance-pop that'll satisfy existing fans whilst at the same time converting plenty more to the singer's cause.
Dizzee Rascal - I Luv U Teenage pregnancy, badboy bravado, a dark ragga bassline, street sass; hold the phone, Dizzee Rascal's superb 'I Luv U' has it all. The UK MC/producer's debut offering on XL, it's already one of the most demand cuts on the hip-hop/garage underground, and looks like the first step on the road to success for an incredible talent. The bass-driven, minimal, and often off-key original is complemented by the prodigious 16-year-old's effortless flow, whilst the mixes add slightly different flavours to a stunning single that highlights urban decay better than anyone since, well, The Streets probably.
DJ Chrome - Who's Crying Now Already a bit of an anthem on many house floors, DJ Chrome's sublime 'Who's Crying Now' finally surfaces this week on Oakie's exceptionally fine Perfecto label. A lingering French kiss of warm keys, swirling filters and sassy disco strings, oh-so-simple house nugget is actually based around a re-recorded track by 80's soft-rock legends Journey. Set to be huge this summer.
Emma - Free Me Ex-Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller has given a leg-up to his former Baby and helped her release a comeback single, complete with a new voluptuous temptress image. Pleasantly mediocre, Free Me is a classy nu-'70s love song. The sound is reminiscent of old Bond-themes and Emma's voice is processed perfectly, with the chorus tweaked to be refreshingly hyper-clean and synthetic. If there's any justice in the world this will seduce its way into the top ten before reaching its sell-by period. But that ol' spice which gave Emma such success last millennium has become the touch of death in the charts right now.
Jemini - Cry Baby Jemini representing Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest for this year. Yep, it's Eurovision time again, and this year's UK entry comes from unknown duo Jemini. An infectious slice of upbeat pop - bolstered by a slight dance edge - 'Cry Baby' might not win the competition on Saturday May 24th, but it's definitely gonna win this talented duo more than a few fans.
Junkie XL ft. Solomon Burke - Catch Up To My Step. Having put Elvis over big-beat, producer Tom Holkenburg now applies the same approach to a living King - 65-year-old soul legend Solomon Burke. However Catch Up To My Step is not entirely riding on the coat tails of its predecessor. A slower tempo, a heavier guitar riff, and lots of soul-scorched vocal repetition create a different feel to that found on A Little Less Conversation - more Moby than Memphis. It's also not as sing-a-long as the Elvis remix, which gives Catch Up To My Step a slightly less satisfying vibe. But it's still a piece of outrageous and impressive dance.
Playgroup - Make It Happen Originally released in 2000, Trevor 'Playgroup' Jackson's excellent 'Make It Happen' re-surfaces this week with a very worthy set of new remixes. The 80's tinted electroid pop original still sounds superb, whilst Ewan Pearson, new XL signings Zongamin, Soul Wax and Midnight Mike each offer up solid remixes. Ewan Pearson's mix, already a Pete Tong fave, is on that cool house crossover tip, Zongamin pump up the bass, Soul Wax up the adrenaline levels and Midnight Mike rounds it all off in off-kilter style.
Busta Rhymes & Mariah Carey ft. Flipmode Squad - I Know What You Want The second release from Busta's latest album, 'It Ain't Safe No More', 'I Know What You Want' marries Busta at his best, top-notch production from long time collaborator Rick Rock (the man behind 'Make It Clap') and a show-stopping turn by arch diva Mariah Carey. A laidback and effortlessly classy hip-hop/r'n'b ballad (think Nelly and Kelly's 'Dilemma'), this track's already blazing a trail across urban dancefloors around the globe and looks like it's gonna do a similar thing on its up the UK's Top 40
S Club - Say Goodbye / Love Ain't Gonna Wait One of the most successful pop acts of the last five years, S Club stunned an army of fans at a live gig in April with the shock announcement that they were about to call it a day. So this single, the aptly titled 'Say Goodbye', is gonna be the gang's last. Highlighting everything that was great about the band, this double A-side will display both sides of the S Club machine. 'Say Goodbye' (penned by Cathy Dennis) is an uplifting, not-to-mention touching ballad, whilst 'Love Ain't Gonna Wait' sees the gang up the tempo and head onto the dancefloor with the kind of feisty party stomper that they've always done well.
Shy FX & T Power ft. Kele Le Roc - Feelin' U Having pretty much returned drum & bass to the masses with 'Shake Your Body' and 'Don't Wanna Know', Shy FX and T Power (with a little help from Kele Le Roc) return this week with another monster in the shape of 'Feelin' U'. Marrying everything that they've become renowned for - rolling beats, a catchy, upbeat vibe and lashings of funk - 'Feelin' U' is another step out of the underground for the drum & bass scene as well as another timely reminder of what a versatile talent Shy FX.
Skin - Trashed The former Skunk Anansie front woman returns with a rousing and emotive taster of new album Fleshwounds - and her powerful voice is put to good use. It's difficult not to be bowled over by that voice once again as it soars and growls - and it's a delight to have her back. Built atop a whistle-along melody and an infectious chorus, with spot-on production by Marius De Vries, Trashed is a declaration of intent, of purpose and of talent.
Turin Brakes - Average Man The latest single from Turin Brakes' 'Ether Song' album, 'Average Man' is another wonderful song from a duo that seem unable to put a musical foot wrong right now. As beautifully spacious, simple and intoxicating as anything that they've ever put out, 'Average Man' also confirms Turin Brakes' status as one of the UK's premier singer-songwriter acts currently plying their trade.
OTHER SINGLES RELEASED THIS WEEK
A.R.E. Weapons - Hey World
Biffy Clyro - Questions And Answers
The Black Keys - Hard Row
John Cale - 5 Tracks
Canyon - Ten Good Eyes
Chungking - Making Music
Division Of Laura Lee - Trapped In
Fake Ideal - Carve Me An Edge
Dave Gahan - Dirty Sticky Floors
Ginuwine - Hell Yeah
The Go Team - Junior Kickstart EP
Incognito - Morning Sun
Holly Lerski - Everyone's Lonely
Mitchell & Dewbury - Globetrotter
P.O.D. - Sleeping Awake
Three Drives - Carrera 2
Martina Topley - Need One
Truby Trio - Jaleo
Wayne Williams - Anything Is Possible
Zongamin - Serious Trouble
SINGLE RELEASE SCHEDULE
June 2
!!! - Me And Giuliani Down By The School Yard
The Basement - Slain The Truth At The Roadhouse
Burning Brides - Arctic Snow
Melanie C - On The Horizon
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - He Wants You / Babe I'm On Fire
Cornelius - Point Of View
The Crimea - White Russian Galaxy
DJ Chrome - Who's Crying Now
Draw - Silver Screen
Electric Six - Gay Bar
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
Grandaddy - Now It's On
Ashley Hamilton - Wimmin'
Hidden Cameras - A Miracle
Hot Action Cop - Fever For The Flava
iio - At The End
Katastrophy Wife - Liberty Belle
Kings Of Leon - Red Morning Light
Marilyn Manson - mOBSCENE
Medicine - I Smile To My Eyes
Medium 21 - By My Side
The Moonies - I Would Give It All Up For Love
Mull Historical Society - Am I Wrong?
Nylon Pylon - Foot In Mouth
One True Voice - Shakespeare's (Way With) Words
Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice
Reef - Waster
Rocket Science - Being Followed
Kenny Rogers - Love Like This
Space Cowboy - Just Put Your Hand In Mine
Shania Twain - Forever And For Always
Stone Sour - Inhale
Zwan - Lyric
June 9
AFI - Girl's Not Grey
Christina Aguilera - Fighter
B2K - Girlfriend
The Bandits - Take It And Run
Counting Crows - If I Could Give You All My Love
Cracatilla - You've Got It All / Everyman
Darius - Girl In The Moon
DJ Sammy - Sunlight
Rob Dougan - Furious Angels
Fast Food Rockers - Fast Food Song
Delta Goodrem - Lost Without You
Jamelia featuring Rah Digga - Bout
Lemonescent - Cinderella
Linkin Park - Faint
Liquid People vs Talk Talk - It's My Life
Jennifer Lopez - I'm Glad
KV5 - Flying Right
Massive Attack - Butterfly Caught
NRC - Here Comes The Rain Again
Nu - Any Other Girl
Erlend Oye - Sheltered Life
Peppercorn - Hyperventilating
Amy Studt - Misfit
The Thrills - Big Sur
Jan Wayne - Can't Help Falling In Love
Michael Woods featuring Imogen Bailey - If U Want Me
June 16
Ashanti - Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)
Aurora featuring Naimee Coleman - Sleeping Satellite
The Darkness - Growing On Me
Dillinja featuring Skibadee - Twist 'Em Out
Jennifer Ellison - Baby I Don't Care
Flip & Fill featuring Jo James - Field Of Dreams
David Guetta vs David Bowie - Just For One Day
Gus Gus - Call Of The Wild
Har Mar Superstar - E-Z Pass
Hot Hot Heat - No, Not Now
Timo Maas - Unite
Mew - Am I Right?
Dannii Minogue - Don't Wanna Lose This Feeling
Moloko - Forever More
Moony - Flying Away
OK Go - Don't Ask Me
Placebo - This Picture
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Universally Speaking
Royksopp - Sparks
Scooter - The Night
Shakedown - Drowsy With Hope
Sugar Ray - Hey Bartender
Tahiti 80 - Soul Deep
Tommi - Like What
Train - Calling All Angels
Un-Cut - Falling
Paul Van Dyk - Nothing But you
Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go
June 23
Anotherside - This Is Your Night
Athlete - Westside
The Bangles - I Will Take Care Of You
Blazin' Squad - We Just Be Dreamin'
Michelle Branch - Are You Happy Now?
Delerium - After All
Siobhan Donaghy - Overrated
The Donnas - Who Invited Who?
P. Diddy featuring Kelis - Let's Get Ill
Flaming Lips - Fight Test
Foo Fighters - Low
Harry - Follow Me
Kurtis Mantronix presents Chamonix - How Did You Know? (77 Strings)
Metallica - St. Anger
Morcheeba - What's Your Name?
Ms Dynamite - Now U Want My Love
Roxette - Opportunity Nox
Simple Minds vs Tomcraft - Space Face
Simple Plan - Addicted
Sinead Quinn - What You Need Is
Three Doors Down - When I'm Gone
Ultrabeat - Pretty Green Eyes Vitamin C - Last Nite
Barratt Waugh - Skip A Beat
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Pin
Zena - Let's Get This Party Started
June 30
50 Cent featuring Nate Dogg - 21 Questions
The Foundation featuring Natalie Rossi - All Out Of Love
Whitney Houston - On My Own
Kaci - I'm Not Anybody's Girl
M Factor - Come Together
Lisa Marie Presley - Lights Out
Cerys Matthews - Only A Fool
Mis-Teeq - Can't Get It Back
The Moony Suzuki - In A Young Man's Mind
N-Trance - Destiny
S Club 8 - Fool No More
Seal - Get It Together
Something Corporate - If You See Jordan
Star Spangles - Live For Speed
Wheatus - American In Amsterdam
July 7
Alkaline Trio - We've Had Enough
Appleton - Everything Eventually
Blur - Crazy Beat
Blu Cantrell - Breathe
Harry Brooks - Dance With Me
The Coral - Pass It On
D-Side - Invisible
Eminem - Business
In-Grid - Tu Es Foutu
Beyonce Knowles - Crazy In Love
Madonna - Hollywood
Kym Marsh - Come On Over
Planet Funk - The Switch
Rikki & Daz - Bueno Bueno (Soft And Creamy)
Kate Ryan - Scream For More
Simply Red - Fake
July 14
Coldplay - God Put A Smile Upon My Face
Tim Deluxe - Less Talk, More Action
Flint - Aim
Jinny - Keep Warm 2003
Pink - Feel Good Time
Super Furry Animals - Golden Retriever
Triple Eight - Give Me A Reason
Yomanda featuring Ultra Nate - You're Free
July 21
All American Rejects - Swing Swing
Daniel Bedingfield - Never Gonna Leave Your Side
The Dandy Warhols - The Last High
Kosheen - All In My Head
Mario Lopez - Always & Forever
Sash! featuring TJ Davis - I Believe
July 28
The Hiss - The Clever Kicks
Lisa Maffia - In Love
Phixx - Gett Off
August 4
4 Strings - Let It Rain
Elbow - Fallen Angel
Good Charlotte - The Anthem
Mark Owen - 4 Minute Warning
Kelly Rowland - Train On The Track
David Sneddon - Best Of Order
Crystal Waters - This Is My Time
August 11
Big Brovaz - Baby Boy
Busted - Sleeping With The Light On
Courtney Love - Mono
Girls Aloud - Some Kind Of Miracle
Venus Hum - Soul Sloshing
