Pop/Jazz: Album Reviews

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Black Star Liner `Bengali Bantam Youth Experience' (WEA) Black Star Liner's fusion of Asian, electro and guitar sounds sees a much smoother production than on their debut. At first it sounds too mellow but a few plays and a high volume setting reveal a very likeable album with lots of potential singles. HHH

Bonnie "Prince" Billy `I See A Darkness' (Domino) Will Oldham has made many albums under various Palace monikers but his new alter-ego is the best yet. The first important album of '99 sees him develop his folkie-slacker sound into a classic vision that's dulcet on the surface but with a scary underbelly. HHHH

Cha Cha Cohen `Cha Cha Cohen' (Chemikal Underground) An impressive debut album from a band led by Jackie Cohen who lives in upstate New York and writes songs with her British-based band by post. While their arty rock recalls Sonic Youth, they've got enough ideas to create their own defined sound. HHH

The Skatalites Meet King Tubby `Heroes of Reggae In Dub' (Motion) A must-have gem for reggae fans everywhere is this "lost album" from 1975 released by Motion for the first time in both CD and vinyl formats.

The band hadn't recorded together in 10 years and the tracks were mixed by the legendary figure of King Tubby. HHH

Snowpony `The Slow-motion World of Snowpony' (Radioactive) With ex-members of My Bloody Valentine and Stereolab on board, Snowpony do at times sound like the sum of their impressive pedigree, but sadly the album far too frequently slips into dronecore with monotone vocals the dominant element. HH

SINGLE OF THE WEEK

The Egg `Getting away with it' (China) Often wrongly interpreted as a trancy festival band, The Egg show their pop credentials with an addictive slab of club-friendly music, like the Pet Shop Boys with the kitsch and pomp taken away. A second format comes with remixes by Rollo of Faithless. HHHH