Single Reviews on CLUAS - Oct '99

Muse - 'Cave' (Mushroom)

The industry seems to be throwing Muse in at the deep end. Early press has been positive and the young Devon lads are already on four labels worldwide, including Madonna's Maverick in the States. The first thing you notice about their new two-CD single "Cave" is how much singer Matthew Bellamy wants to be Thom Yorke. Then you discover that the producer is John 'The Bends' Leckie. Mmmm. And for a band who claim to despise all things Britpop, well, I bet someone's been nicking pages from chapter one of "How to Play Britpop Guitar" at the Devon County Library. Perhaps in straining to sound like his hero, Bellamy resembles some hybrid of Kelly Jones and Marl Almond (honest). No doubt he's a talented singer, but he's misguided, seduced by youthful over-ambition. Similarly, the music strives to be epic and theatrical but "Dog Man Star" this ain't. If you think Longpigs, Three Colours Red and My Life Story are the cutting edge of modern rock, then you might go for this. Radiohead fans, though, stay clear. 
Ollie O'Leary

Cosmos - 'Summer in Space' (Universal - Island)

"Feels like summer in space/Sunshine on your face/Feels like summer in space/Gonna fly to a higher plaaaaace". Yep, you can guess the melody already. David Laudat's decidedly 80s vocals are uninspired to say the least and the music is standard party-zone fare. Basically, if you love Phats & Small, you'll like this. The, wait for it, Ibiza mix stretches to a mundane nine minutes, with only scraps of reinvention. Mark Pritchard scores a late consolation goal with his edit, which, thankfully, bears no resemblance to the other two tracks. A genuine ambient feel is achieved and with a cracking drumbeat at the forefront, it's an entrancing surprise.
Ollie O'Leary

Basement Jaxx- 'Jump and Shout' (XL)

This the latest release from 'Remedy' isn't one of the stronger tracks on the album and Slarta Johns' vocals do get a bit annoying. however I would buy it if only for the excellent 'Beg U' on the b side. It starts off with a building piano sample before exploding into a breakdown Latin style. Perfect party track and shows the boys talent in that their b sides beat most artists a sides hands down.
Conor Purcell

Babybush- 'For Real' (Ride)

On the Ministry of Sounds label, the track to check on this release is Jazzy  M's Redplug Dub. He takes the original rather weak vocal track and turns it into a pumping electro monster. Heavy bass and filtered samples should make this a sure fire floor filler.
Conor Purcell

Robbie Rivera - 'First the Groove' (Duty Free)

The latest from Mr. Rivera comes out on Tall Paul's label and is in a typical Rivera style. The original mix is the one to go for here with it's disco style breakdowns working well with the chopped vocal sample. The Pussy 2000 mix adds an unnecessary piano sample which takes away from the energy of the track. The same is true of the Garage mix which isn't a patch on the original.
Conor Purcell