SINGLES

DUM DUMS: Everything (Good Behaviour) - This three-piece are far from what their name suggests, blending in-yer-face vocals, a singalong chorus, spiralling guitar riffs and a strong pop sensibility. (9/10) PB

THE BLUETONES: Keep The Home Fires Burning (A and M) - The jangly guitar popsters return with a beautiful, less-is-more piece of melodic mastery. The lifting chorus gives singer Mark Morriss a chance to show how he can create something extraordinary from a simple but clever melody. Strummed acoustic guitars mix with riff-building electric axe and it sounds like there are brass instruments in there too. (8/10) PB

MADNESS featuring IAN DURY: We Want Freddie For Our Leader (Virgin) - Madness's zany ska formula is unchanged and uninspiring, although Dury's comedic Cockney vocals add a loveable novelty to this, their spoof effort at having an influence on the race for Mayor Of London. Almost funny but it won't stand repeated listening. (5/10) PB

PRECIOUS: Rewind (EMI) - The former Eurovision hopefuls, including Lancashire lass Sophie Macdonald, return with more bouncy pop and are set for a series of television appearances in the near future. Strong vocals and a tight melody make this a reasonable chart offering, although it's hardly a work of genius. (5/10) PB

ALBUMS

BOWERY ELECTRIC: Lushlife (Beggars Banquet) - These dark and brooding sounds are very much in the mould of Portishead, but with enough passion and beauty to prevent the music from becoming too depressing, the second album from Bowery Electric makes wonderful late-night listening. Soft, husky female vocals are mixed with gentle keyboard and bass, punctuated by lazy but tough real drums. The opening track, Floating World, sounds like the darker moments of Massive Attack, with sort smart scratching and orchestral accompaniments. Some of the tracks sound very much like each other but when the music's good, that can be excused. (7/10) PB

D'ANGELO: Voodoo (EMI) - Posing like a rap star on the album cover, it's a surprise to find that D'Angelo is a soul fan who values influences from the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone and gives hip-hop a verbal slating. This is slow, soulful stuff mixing playful falsetto vocals, offbeat percussion, handclaps, funky guitar and zany laughing sounds. He comes close to rapping on some of the tracks but there's still not enough raw energy or originality to make this a thrilling listen. Even spoof wideboy Ali G would be proud of his bizarre pose, holding what appears to be a live chicken. (6/10) PB

CO.UK: Brainwash (BrightStar Recordings) - Brash and noisy rantings from these melodic but energetic Ulstermen. Amid a tough mixture of scratchy guitars, hard-hit drums and occasional heavy-metal riffs, this three-piece manage to strike a sweet balance between singing and shouting. Highlights of this seven-track mini-album are stop-start opener Part Of The Game and the only-slightly softer Not Today. They manage to resist the urge to rock out violently on penultimate track Heroes In Waiting, before dropping back into a grungier groove on the final song Big Green Bath. Solid rock fare but not everyone's cup of tea. (7/10) PB

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.