Records

Rip It Up, Issue 65, 1 December 1982, Page 22

Records

ÜB4O U 844 DEP International Deceptively mild would be an apt description, especially after Present Arms, their most upfront effort.- But that's the beauty of ÜB4O. They stand a lot of repeated listening and there’s a whole

summer's worth here. The entire first side just flows from one track to the next, opening with the loping, lazy funk of the last single, 'So Here 1 Am' with its bitter-sweet horns and plonky bass. 'I Won't Close My Eyes' has been remixed for more bottom sound, enhancing its rather slight tune and making it far more appealing. 'Love Is All (Is Alright)' is one of the sweetest melodies they've written, but like so much of their material, it has a sting in the tail. 'Forget The Cost' is again closer

to funk than reggae, in the Dunbar-Shakespeare vein and The Piper Calls The Tune' is a well familiar sound. It must be said that Ali Campbell is in fine form vocally, . his ' voice unusually mellow for one so young (about 21, I think). 'The Key' doesn't work that well, despite its tough rhythm track. Songs about reggae music are as embarrassing and unnecessary as songs about rock'n'roll. Hey Politician' is an improvement, with Astro's militant vocals providing the link between Birmingham and Jamaica. Like all good British reggae bands, ÜB4O never deny the roots of their music and often highlight them to good effect. Don't Do The Crime' and 'The Prisoner' are typically angry reflections on the sickness bred by unemployment and poverty. The gentleness of the tunes belies the harshness of the words. More excellent hot weather sounds, at their best when that third can is sliding sensuously down the throat and that little bead of sweat is sliding down your spine. But don't ignore what this band is saying, either. The lyrics are enclosed for your benefit. It's, happened to Britain, it looks like happening here. Duncan Campbell INXS Shabooh Shoobah WEA On the strength of this album, INXS deserve to be the next Australian band to break through to the huge American market, it has so much class. From the opening, The One Thing' (whose hookline is dangerously close to that of their last single, 'Stay Young'), it sways and swaggers through two sides of sheer musical bliss. Superbly confident, strong arrangements, intelligent lyrics and a dynamic production from Mark Opitz (of Cold Chisel fame) all score maximum points. Very ably led by vocalist Michael Hutchence, who handles all songs with an almost arrogant ease, some snappy drumming from John Farriss (no Linn drums here!), a couple of short, sweet sax solos from Kirk Pengilly, totally unobtrusive keyboards from Andrew Farriss and sparse but tasteful licks from guitarist brother Tim, make this one of the most potent six-

pieces I've heard in a long time. They exude class with a capital C. . If you're bored with the usual Xmas fare and most of it's pretty safe at this time of year, do yourself a favour and drop this in your stocking. You'll be well pleased you did. Greg Cobb James Blood Ulmer Black Rock CBS So what is all the fuss about James Blood Ulmer? If this album doesn't help you understand, nothing will. Black Rock is the closest he's come to making a 'commercial' recording. V The furious fund of the last two albums has not mellowed, but rather diversified. The comparison with Jimi Hendrix becomes even more valid on the title track and 'Open House', where the rhythm matches the approach of songs like 'Stone Free' and Blood's guitar spews colour everywhere. -T’-.-He's doing more vocals this time and hits the • peaks with 'Family Affair' and "Love Have Two Faces', both duets with his wife, Irene. Datcher. Both tracks are deeply soulful, a real listening experience. 'Moon Beam' is a strange one, an instrumental featuring the sax of Sam Sanders and sounding like nothing other than- the 'Mission. Impossible' theme. Sanders also helps to strike a nice groove on 'Overnight'. The other tracks tend to be a little too flashy, showing off fast and clever licks for their own sake. Technically immaculate, but not innovative and ultimately dull. •'. Still, there's enough here to convince that James Blood Ulmer has some ideas on where black music is heading. If Freelancing was too rough for you, then Black Rock- could open your eyes.

Duncan Campbell