ALBUMS
Door to the Souk -- Various
This album, influenced by the London club PoNaNa, is chilled and funky and, ironically, ideal for a good night in.
It features top talent from the worlds of jazz, raggae, rap and jungle with a fusion of fascinating cover versions and original tracks.
Two CDs are packed with a total of 25 songs, most of which are well worth a listen.
It includes artists such as jazz pianist Patricia Barber with the Sonny Bono hit, 'The Beat Goes On', four-piece rap act Orishas and experimentalist Herbert.
Unbelievable Too -- Various
Another compilation, this time with an indie and dance theme.
The usual suspects are all here: Oasis with Supersonic; Moby with Feeling so Real; and the Happy Mondays with Kinky Affro.
Among them are M/A/R/R/S with Pump Up The Volume and the Prodigy with Carly.
Basically, it's a cynical attempt by the record company to cash in on old songs.
Most of them you are likely to have, some like the Shamen's Phorever People you won't want to have.
A real mixed bag.
SINGLES
KATASTROPHYWIFE -- Gone Away
High-tempo single with a great beat, Katastophywife goes from being hard-to-hear and whiny to just screaming down the microphone.
A song which hits all the right notes.
SYSTEM OF A DOWN -- Toxicity
Loud, dramatic and completely unrelenting. That's the latest single from LA's Armenian metal quartet.
The band have been tipped for big things and this single certainly makes an impression.
GOMEZ -- Shot Shot
Gomez make a welcome return with this short, sharp blast of blues-tinged pop.
A perfect reminder of why they scooped the Mercury music Prize from under the noses of The Verve and Robbie Williams.
ROLAND GIFT -- It's Only Money
The former Fine Young Cannibal returns to the music world with this, his first solo single.
He carries on where FYC left off with this attack on a materialistic lover.
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