Singles

ENIGMA: Gravity Of Love (Virgin/Schallplatten) - Best remembered for their melding of dance beats and Gregorian chants in the early '90s, Enigma seem determined to see if they can milk anything more with this dull mixture of female vocals, choirsong and slow techno. I suggest they find something better to do with their time. (3/10) PB

LENNY KRAVITZ: Black Velveteen (Virgin) - Although he enjoyed some success with his derivative brand of rock, Lenny Kravitz was always long on impersonation and short on inspiration. This outdated electro-rock should crash and burn in the charts . . . unless his agent can get it used on a car advert, that is. (4/10) PB

Albums

VARIOUS ARTISTS: Now That's What I Call Music 44 (Virgin) - The traditional mix of straight kiddies' pop with a few more considered offerings, Now collections have always been a good benchmark of what the industry thinks is selling. So this time there are the boy or girl band members going solo (Jordan Knight, Geri Halliwell, Robbie Williams and Emma Bunton), the killer dance hits (Wamdue Project, Moloko), old duffers (Phil Collins, Tina Turner) and newcomers (Britney Spears, Martine McCutcheon). The other thing you can count on with Now compilations is that most of it will be forgotten in a couple of years' time. (6/10) PB

VARIOUS ARTISTS: The Best Anthems . . .Ever! (Virgin) - The occasional record-buyer is faced with so many compilations at present, many of which share tracks by the same bands. Here, as with so many other compilations, we have relative newcomers like Travis, Robbie Williams, Catatonia, Stereophonics and The Cardigans, mixed in with long-term NME fodder like Suede, REM, Blur and The Charlatans. This is one of the best of its type and includes songs from many acts who have made the big time this year. The best advice is to compare the track listings. (8/10) PB

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