PET SHOP BOYS: I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Any More (Parlophone) - Once again, its the tried-and-tested mix of Neil Tennant's wry, dry vocal and Chris Lowe's 80s-tinged electronic sounds. It would be impossible to mistake this record for any other band. But while the sound is the same, this release lacks the usual wit and lyrical creativity which are the key to the duo's appeal. They are just going through the motions with this one. (5/10) PB

CHEMICAL BROTHERS: Let Forever Be (Virgin) - The former Dust Brothers, kings of rough-edged techno, indulge their rock and roll tendencies by teaming up with the brains behind Oasis, Noel Gallagher. The result is a techno tune with live drums and swirling Oasis-style strings and guitar spun into reverse using the technique The Stone Roses used to extend their albums. Gallagher provides a reasonable vocal, although it is rather repetitive. (7/10) PB ANOTHER LEVEL: Summertime (Strictly TQ) - Mindless summer rap-funk-pop drivel, which probably has a colourful video with people rollerskating, bouncing around happily for no reason on street corners and grinning inanely. What are these people so happy about anyway? (2/10) PB ALBUMS CIBO MATTO: Stereo Type A (Warner Bros) -Sean Lennon, son of Beatle John, plays 11 instruments on this album, including bass, drums, guitar and synth. He is just one of a very strange four-piece whose music falls somewhere between the shrill poppiness of The Sugarcubes and the off-the-wall weirdness of the late Frank Zappa. Led by female vocals, the songs explore jazz, pop and techno, with an army of guest musicians and the lyrics verge on the surreal. Deliciously different. (8/10) PB

CARL COX: Phuture 2000 (Edel) - The turntable master has spent three years preparing this album, which he has written, mixed and produced. Things start off with a rapper called Top Cat extolling the virtues of martial arts. Summer anthem The Latin Theme is a jazzy mix of percussion and brass. The title track is a slow-building trance tune with a spooky, distant vocal while other tunes are built round simple but funky drum patterns. It's a little self-indulgent, with the majority of the tracks lasting more than eight minutes. Cosmic Dawn is a stop-start tune built round the sort of synth sounds 808 State and The Shamen were using nearly a decade ago. Excellent background music but only a couple of dancefloor tracks. (7/10) PB

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