CLOUD ELEVEN
Sweet Happy Life ( Kool Kat; CD)
     Rick Gallego's previous works as Cloud Eleven have been beautifully arranged, harmony-laden power-pop. On Sweet Happy Life the harmonies are still present but Rick has taken a more mellow and gentle approach. Most of the instruments are acoustic and bongos or a snare drum are preferred to a full drum kit. This album was recorded at home, with Rick playing almost all the instruments, but, like Rick's previous work, it is highly polished and a far cry from a D.I.Y. album. Most of the songs have a languorous, unhurried feel, with dreamy harmonies from Rick and Nelson Zane. Over the course of the album a laid-back, happy feel is created. Pedal steel guitar is used a great deal, although in a completely 'non-Country' way. However, it is a mournful instrument, and I prefer the songs which are based around the acoustic guitars and bongos. Heavenly harmonies for hot summer evenings.
www.koolkatmusik.com
Phil Suggitt

FABIENNE DELSOL
Between You and Me (Damaged Goods; CD/LP)
     Fans of Fabienne's 2004 album and the two earlier Bristols' albums will not be disappointed by this new release, as it explores similar territory. In Fabienne's world it really is 1965 again, alternating between the Swingin' London of the early beat era and a Paris full of ye-ye girls in mini-jupes. The excellent opener, 'Vilaines filles Mauvais Garcons' sets the tone; a danceable, catchy beat, simple but impeccable backing and Fabienne's slightly fragile but beguiling voice. The rhythm section is particularly strong, although information about the musicians is sparse. If only the original ye-ye girls had been this well backed and produced!
     Three of the tunes are sung in French, but the eleven others are just as good. The cover of 'Don't throw Your Love away' is miles better than the original. The original tunes by George Miller sit perfectly with the classy cover versions. Another stand-out is the sprightly 'That's The Way To Do It' – Yep, this album is the way to do it.
www.damagedgoods.co.uk
Phil Suggitt

LOS IMPOSIBLES
Una Vez Mas (Bittersweet; CD single)
     Paco Poza and his Men from Madrid have championed a subtle blend of sixties' inspired beat-pop for many years now. Los Imposibles have always displayed a light, melodic touch, emphasising tunes rather than a wall of noise. It's good to see that they have stayed true to their original principles.
The three songs on this single are taken from the new CD Lost and Fun, presumably to highlight different aspects of the band. The opener, 'Gooliver Song' is a radio-friendly pop song driven by a catchy organ riff. A brass section fills out the sound on 'Keep On Trying', and on the title track the band continue their tradition of dividing their songs between English and their native Spanish.
www.bittersweetrecordings.com
Phil Suggitt

THEE JENERATORS
The Kids Are Not Alright (Twist; CD)
     For their second album Guernsey's Thee Jenerators have taken a different approach to their previous releases. A brass section has been added, and the songs follow a simple but unusual recipe. Guitar is used to lay down a heavy rhythm over which the brass section can riff and lay down the tune, as in ska and soul. The songs have a loose feel, having been recorded live in the studio. The tunes are big, simple anthems, involving lots of repetition. They are all full-tilt and full-on from the outset, with reverent references to past masters like Bo Diddley, Eddie Cochran and several soul classics.
     Some of the songs, like 'Mr. Lucky Pants' sound rather one dimensional, and 'George Best' is virtually a football terrace chant. On first hearing I missed the melodic invention and subtler changes of pace to be found on vocalist Mark Le Gallez' previous work with The Risk and The Sacred Hearts. However, this album isn't intended as subtle armchair listening at home. Songs like 'Crazy Little Love Machine' do their stuff on a late night dance floor. This really works as a big sweaty dance record to play at a club or a party, where it sounds just fine.
www.twistrecords.co.uk
Phil Suggitt

THE MISSION CREEPS
In Sickness And In Health (Refractory; CD)
     The Mission Creeps CD cover shows a dead young woman hanging from the ceiling. This may be a reference to a cult movie I haven't seen, but if I was browsing in a store the cover would make me think this was a death-metal, Goth or horror punk record, and ignore it. If you can get past the off-putting cover the music is a pleasant surprise. Bassist Miss Frankie Stein and her partner, singer/guitarist James Arrr have combined elements of all their favourite types of music, which they call 'horror surf spy'. With the exception of the more up-tempo garage of 'Empty Coffin' most of the songs are slow shuffles with big, brooding bass lines and soulful harmonica. The lyrics are a mixture of Cramp-abilly and B-movie horror, sung in a slowish croon. Nothing is taken too literally, as titles like 'Haunted Sandcastle' prove. The guitars are a mixture of twangy surf and sphagetti western themes. Becca Horton's backing vocals and the keyboards of guest Namoli Bennet add a great deal to the sound, giving several of the tunes a catchy pop edge. Songs like 'Case Of The Zombies' show that The Mission Creeps have combined some unusual influences into something interesting and very listenable.
www.missioncreeps.com
Phil Suggitt

THE NUKES
Picnic In Peking (Blip Records, UK 2007)
     As The Nucleotides, they peddled an ever-so slightly jazzy subdivision of the more common surf / instrumental sound. Trimmed down to a trio, and shortening their name in the process, the Edinburgh-based group then headed south to London’s ToeRag studio earlier this year. Produced by Liam Watson, the results from that session are included on this, the group’s debut CD, Picnic In Peking; its striking cover design made to look like a film soundtrack.
     The Nukes’ chosen framework for melody and rhythmic structure isn’t always slavish to the patterns laid down by past masters either, so Picnic In Peking makes for a bright listening experience on repeated spins. Of course you will find here echoes of The Shadows, Ventures, Nero and the Gladiators and various other instro-talents from a bygone era, but what stands out is that The Nukes also offer up something a little different, fresh-sounding, in their battery of commanding twangs and rumbles.
     ‘The Snitcher’ is a fine example of what’s on the menu, sneakily cool-sounding too, and a nod in the direction of the late, great Link Wray. The drum-wracked ‘Skull Island’ is another stand out selection here, founder-member Mark Carr blazing a furious tom-tom trail amid the hoodoo-voodoo. They also turn in a surprisingly evocative piece of surf-exotica called ‘March Of Gwanji’. The momentum slides a little during the splendidly-titled but fairly pedestrian, Cramps-a-like fare of ‘Bawheid Stomp’, but thankfully this blip (no pun intended) doesn’t last long. With Picnic In Peking, new-on-the-map instro- scenesters The Nukes have delivered an assured debut outing.
Lenny Helsing

THE PRISCILLAS
Superhero Dirty Water; 45)
     On 'Superhero' London all-girl band The Priscilla's successfully blend elements of pop, punk, garage and rock'n'roll. Their hybrid works, as the song has a catchy tune with smart lyrics, sung in a clean, bright style. When The Priscillas emphasise the pop elements in their musical mixture they hit the spot. When the band veer in a more punk direction, as on the B side, 'Y.O.Y', they are less impressive. Although the good vocals and high energy levels are still present, the song is short of a proper tune behind the fuzzy guitars. Concentrate on the sparky pop and ease off on the predictable punk, girls!
www.dirtywaterrecords.co.uk
Phil Suggitt

THE SHIMMYS
Drive you Wild! (Off The Hip; CD)
     Sydney's all-girl garage trio The Shimmy's realise that garage pop should be fun; they look the part and they don't take themselves too seriously. An Australian show with their like-minded compatriots The Booby Traps sounds my kind of evening.
     The problem with this album is that The Shimmys have chosen to include several well-known covers, (such as 'Slow Down' and 'Comanche') which probably fit well into their live set, but have been almost covered to death by other bands. It's a shame they didn't go for more unusual obscure covers, as they are still developing their own song writing abilities. Songs like 'Go-Go Teen' are competent but not particularly imaginative. Others, such as 'Too Many Boys....So Little Time' are throwaways. The vocals are good but guitarist Suzy Watusi overdoes the fuzztone, so that every song includes some predictable Sonics-style fuzz. Hopefully the band can develop more imagination so that their own tunes become more varied and imaginative.
www.offthehip.com.au
Phil Suggitt