Welcome Kinetic, The - Morning Recordings

Advantages: Some songs back to old form, better than a lot of their later albums
Disadvantages: Odd bad tracks

...Madness have continued to tour since their split in the late eighties, but it hasn't been until Wonderful that the band had re-recorded. Though some fans might have been wary after some of their below par later recordings and Suggs' own solo albums, their fears were unwarranted, as the band bounced back with a quality record. The first single showed just how well the band had regrouped, as Lovestruck shot deservedly into the charts. There are also others where it came from, namely the brilliant Johnny The Horse, the uplifting The Wizard and longing Saturday Night Sunday Morning. The album doe have odd misses, for example the rather boring The Communicator or the brooding If I Didn't Care. However, overall it is a welcome return from the kings of 80s singles bands.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Can be both chilling and music to dance to
Disadvantages: The first few tracks dont have the excellence as the latter

...This compilation from R&S records brings together over an hour of Dave Angels exclusive sound from the early part of his producing career. The opening song BOUNCE BACK sets the scene for the 12 track compilation which is both techno in both a stripped down and melodic atmoshperic style. The uplifting FREE FLOW features a silky smooth backing and is really the first track on the CD which displays the trademark Dave Angel rolling percussion loops of piercing hi-hats and crunchy snare hits. The track also featured on X-Mix 4, ENDLESS MOTIONS takes you to another part of the universe. An intense dreamlike flowing sound very pleasing to the ear. The whole CD is a music lovers delight. My personnal favourites being DOWN DEEP and LUST (both heard at Club Kinetic in Stoke on Trent). The CD ends with the soft pads, tuned percussion and sweet... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: great cd!
Disadvantages: none

...2003 was something of a breakthrough year for Elephant Man. With the marketing power of Atlantic Records backing him up, his Pon de River Pon de Bank received extensive airplay in the mainstream media, and while he undoubtedly won over some new fans, I don't think that America really knew what to make of him. With his garish blonde hair, his hyper-kinetic speech and movements, his raw, hardcore dancehall sound, his heavy Jamaican slang, and his slack lyrics, Elephant Man is a hard sell to the American public, especially when compared to the first two artists to release albums through the VP/Atlantic team-up, the relatively clean-cut Sean Paul and Wayne Wonder. Yes, his very nature the thing that makes him so popular among his fans is the same thing that inhibits him from expanding that fan base much beyond the diehard dancehall crowd... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful