Alpha - Such A Surge

Advantages: Electric Light Orchestrations.
Disadvantages: Soul Hugging Is So Tough.

...Blessed with a singer who possesses a faintly Motown edge and a backing duo who can't help but layer on sweet electronic pulses St. Etienne are quite unlike anything that has hovered around the British music scene over the last decade. Their music drifts elegantly from conscientious (and by this I mean it has soul) lounge music to frothy euro disco while still retaining a killer melody and the odd wry lyric. The band first started playing together back in 1990. Their debut 'Foxbase Alpha' arrived in 1991 and highlighted a new band with the imagination and courage to take pointers from disparate sources and uncover something bright and endearing. The follow up 'So Tough' in 1993 spliced so many sound bytes it was incredible that the whole thing worked so well ('Conchita Martinez' sampled Rush's 'Spirit Of The Radio' in a mix... Read review

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Advantages: Got it all and'll raise the party atmosphere
Disadvantages: You are kidding (unless this aint your favourite flavour of music)

...Freestylers came to Cardiff Uni recently. TOPTASTIC!! is all I can say, they gave spirit to the crowd and left us there at 1 am all pining for more from the DJ set they did. I walked out to people still chanting "ONE MORE, ONE MORE!!!" The album is a real energy booster, if you are being dragged out but feeling a bit pessimistic for the night ahead, whack this little beauty on and you’ll feel the lifting energy surge into your blood. I’ve had people in my flat boost the volume up and jump around to it in mental preparation for the clubs in the city. I've seen people surge to the dance floor when their tunes surge out of the speakers. I’m not the best at classing music and I wouldn’t want to with this, it’s happily in a league of its own in my view. They’ve got it all, Funky, Dancy, Big Break... Read review

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Advantages: Wonderful stuff
Disadvantages: Teetering on the bland

...The reggae album to top all other reggae albums, it is true to say that Exodus by Bob Marley and The Wailers was the record that truly broke reggae onto the world stage when it came into the light of day during the punk rock surge of 1977. No one disliked reggae except the most right wing of nutters and punks loved the rebel music. Bob Marley had already leapt into the spotlight in 1975 with the Live album and its accompanying No Woman No Cry epic single. Eric Clapton's I Shot The Sheriff smash in 1974 paved the way, but it was Exodus that captured the mainstream audience and was taken to that audience's heart. It was atour de force, still hard enough for the real dubsters (just about) but soft enough to make the Mums happy. Exodus the single was the highlight of the set, but it was run a close second by Jamming, Waiting In Vain... Read review

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