this week's post ...

Inner City Pirates
Cockney Sparra new single 7 July
Well we've been following Russ & Co's progress since their time as My Red Cell when a change of management at V2 Records left them with a record contract but out in the cold. Since then they've lost none of their enthusiasm, often performing guerilla gigs at Barry Island and even on the kerb outside Cardiff Barfly. This is a chirpy 2'20" @ 100bpm ... an intriguing lyric with a "doo doo d doo doo" chanty style chorus and for me it has something different ... ah yes a melody! Brilliant

One Night Only
You & Me new single 7 July
This was the tune that brought One Night Only to a national audience when it was first released a year back. Oh yes we remember the Radio One lass Jo Whiley wetting her loins over them and here we are a year later and 'You & Me' is being re-released following the single and album success they've received. A chirpy little song, depending on how many of their audience already have it, it should make the Top Twenty

Elliot Minor
Time After Time new single 23 July
Rather more medium paced 130bpm 'Time After Time' is Elliot Minor's best single yet ... Top Ten? Hope s

Rosie Oddie & Odd Squad
Cola Coka new single 2 June
Produced by Julian Simmons of Guillemots fame North Londoner Rosie Oddie's got it, a brilliant edgy catchy indie anthem - love the Cola Coka pun too!

Bumblebeez
Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill new album 26 May
'Rio' is such a great track it lifts this album ... however I'm sorry I have to say I'm disappointed with the way 'Prince Umberto & The Sister Of Ill' has been compiled. It's just too bitty for my liking. Strong ideas which could have been given more form and made longer, for example track 12 'Spaceships' runs at 1'56" and has a strange anti-climactic ending. I quite like the jingle that is track 4 'Radio Fabulous' but that pulls in around 47" and veers from 93bpm to 120-ish right at the end. The 100bpm 'Dr Love', is another fine 'completed' track.. I'm a bit puzzled with it really, I very much like 'Rio' and I don't at all like the 50 second rambles. Sorry, but at least 'Rio's brilliant

DORP
Humans Being new album 16 June
DORP have a strong DEVO like image and this new album you'd expect to be equally unhinged. But it seems a little muted. There are five cool tracks here but nothing which sets the pulse racing ... the 91bpm 'Rollercoaster', 131bpm 'I Got What You Need', 154bpm Pigs Do Fly', the 44bpm weirdo 'Boy/Girl' and the 99bpm 'Plug Into The Machine' ... almost there but not quite yet

The Thirst
My Everything new single 14 July
Billy J Kramer & The Dakotas 'Do You Want To Know A Secret' - spoken intro over guitar chords strums before the beat kicks in = 1963 No.1 ... this is similar in that .. Zane Lowe & Ronnie Lane approved too. 'My Everything' is a strong 175bpm love song and could well become a bit of an anthem. Good