SINGLES

LEAP OF FAITH

Out Monday, Mercury

FORMER actor David Charvet has swopped the red shorts of Baywatch for a career in music.

But unlike former colleague David "Knight Rider" Hasselhoff, he just might make it.

The boy has a Savage Garden/Darren Hayes sound as we hear he will wait for the love of his life, taking a leap of faith.

It's a decent pop track but how does going to a recording studio every morning compare to "working" on a California beach with Pamela Anderson and co?

Melodi Brown -- Naked (Out Monday, Polydor)

WHEN you sound like TLC and Appleton, with a bit of hard rock thrown in for good measure, you're on the way up. The recipe for the British foursome's debut single is: electro-pop/funk, add a pinch of rock, smother with incredible voices, get the Kenwood out, and you can't go wrong. Definitely worth a listen.

Sticky -- Tales Of The Hood (Out Monday, Go Beat)

FEATURING Tubby T, this is not an account of the last moments of the Royal Navy's greatest battleship. It's a dodgy garage track with a reggae feel to it. It's the sort of thing you hear on Radio One on a Friday night as you sit bumper-to-bumper on the M6.

HH

OXIDE & NEUTRINO

DEM GIRLZ

Out Monday, Eastwest

A TOUCH of humour always goes a long way in my book -- that's why I think Eminem is so good.

With lines like "I don't know why these girls are bitchin' over me," you might think it's typical hip-hip, I'm better than anyone else, type of thing.

Nope. After Neutrino featured in a tabloid kiss-and-tell, episode, this is a sideways look at "dem girlz", and those like them.

Good stuff.

FIRST CHOICE

AIN'T HE BAD

Out Monday, Code Blue

FIRST Choice disbanded 19 years ago but their music lives on with remixes like this.

The disco classic gets the 2002 treatment from Harlem Hustlers and the Beginerz.

Two of the more successful attempts to drag the '80s kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

TOKTOK

MISSY QUEEN'S GONNA DIE

Out Monday, Code Blue

ELECTRO-FUNK, pop, punk and club.

How many more styles can you squeeze into a couple of minutes?

Telling the story of a woman sick of being a doormat for her fella, it includes a disco beat that wouldn't be out of place on a Freddie Mercury solo album.

Different, and not bad.

LEVELLERS

COME ON

Out Monday, Eagle Records

A BIT like Texas, the Levellers is one of those groups that produce hit after hit to the response: "I didn't realise THEY did THAT."

One way of life, Just the one, Hope street and What a beautiful day. Ringing any bells?

Anyway, this is a catchy rock track with a big chorus "Come on and see the love."

The new album, Green blade rising, is out on September 23. It's in my CD player at the moment and I like what I've heard so far.

Ronan Keating -- I Love It When We Do (Out Monday, Polydor)

ANOTHER belter from the boy from Boyzone. Very much along the lines of Lovin' Each Day, it is a fantastic opener to his number-one album, Destination. It has that big pop chorus you can't help but take a shine to, and will have the top spot in its sights. Rock on, Ronan.

ALBUMS

Pulse Ultra -- Headspace (Out Monday, Atlantic)

"MIXED feelings" doesn't begin to cover it here. Released two days before the first anniversary of September 11, why include tracks about skyscrapers that are too big to bring down, terrified people in offices, and fighting a war that is already lost? Even as a tribute, I think it's in bad taste. As for the rest of the album, it's got everything from Metallica heavy rock to piano instrumentals. Not bad, but your mind keeps going back to the openers, Acceptance (Phase I) and Finding My Place (Phase II).

HH

JOSE PADILLA

EL SUENO DE IBIZA

Out Monday, Eastwest

A LOT of people's "Ibiza dream" would be drugs, booze, sex and partying. Well, it's more a reality for many British holidaymakers heading to the island.

This won't be up their streets as it's the soundtrack to the film El sueno de Ibiza, although there are a couple of club tracks.

A combination of original Jose Padilla compositions, as well as a selection of other artists, it offers a mix of soothing Spanish tunes, '70's style funk and rave-on club tunes.

Not bad at all.

GIG GUIDE

AS part of the week-long In the city music conference, Hanky Park will be headlining at Band on the Wall, Manchester, on Friday, September 13.

As a warm-up to the conference, Indian Giver, Fanta 5,000 and Reverb will be playing the Met in Bury on Friday, September 13, at 8pm. Tickets £4.

In the city helped launch the careers of Oasis, Stereophonics, Placebo, Idlewild and Elastica, among others.

SOUL legend Edwin Starr will be performing with The Team at Preston Guild Hall on Saturday, September 14, at 8pm, as part of Soul in the City, in aid of St catherine's Hospice, Preston.

Soul DJs Kev Sowerby, Ian de Havilland, Ken Rigby and Steve Wilson will be playing the best Northen soul and Tamla Motown sounds.

Tickets £12.50 on 01772 258858.