singles

Rip It Up, Issue 210, 1 February 1995, Page 33

singles

Been a while and, although there’s not a lot to catch up on, the leading three platters show the art of cooking emotions into three/four minute tidbits hasn’t disappeared. First up, Portishead were one of the finds of last year with their gorgeous, moody blues and electric undercurrent and that’s exactly ‘Glory Box’ (Go Beat), and it’s three deliciously seductive re-mixes. More newcomers, and Gene are equally impressive in their own field. Their third single a triple A-side ‘Sleep Well Tonight’/‘Sick, Sober and Sorry’/‘Her Fifteen Years’ (Polydor), confirms vocalist Martin Rossiter and the bands ambition and ability to fill the Smiths long vacant shoes. If these three evocative tunefully wrought pieces of angst pathos and humour are anything to go by then Morrissey can retire under his bus. Try

‘Her Fifteen Years’ as an unbelievable slice of melancholy. Years in the making and almost up to expectations is the Stone Roses Second Coming, with the single ‘Love Spreads’ (Geffen). It’s a patient classic, with John Squire opening fire with hard rock 70s slide guitar riffery and Brown boasting about messiahs and sisters. The whole thing bounces along with the sure hand of professionals. REM lift their second single from Monster in the shape of the two dimensional ‘Bang and Blame’ (Warners). Stipe simmers in the verses, then erupts into a chorus of sex and accusation. Three live tracks add to the attraction.

Next up is Robbie Robertson’s Red Road Ensemble’s ‘Mahk Jchi’ (Capitol). It’s a delightful, heart stoppingly haunting, tradi-

tional Indian ballad. Magical. It’s been around a while, but don’t underestimate or miss Hootie and the Blowfish’s ‘Hold My Hand’/‘Running From An Angel’ (Atlantic). It has a big beefy, gospel presence with a ridiculously uplifting chorus that kicks ‘authentic’ posers like Counting Crow shit into the nearest bayou. In the final bracket, and Shane MacGowan lifts the ironically titled ‘The Woman’s Got Me Drinking’ (ZTT) from his solo album. It’s solid ‘Gloria’ inspired rock ’n’ roll, but the traditional ‘Roddy McCorley’ and ‘Minstrel Boy’ get closer to his bedraggled magnificence. Last up, Australians the Cruel Sea continue on their trail through the swamps and bayous of R&B in the big, mean, growling ‘Better Get A Lawyer’.

GEORGE KAY