Music Writings by CL

Basement Jaxx - Kish Kash, Album Review 2003. Full Review, Click Here. Basement Jaxx  albums have always been eclectic affairs; a bit of ragga, a bit of pop, the energy of punk - combined elements that made the band so initially exciting. Sadly, the correct tense is 'made', because their latest offering  'Kish Kash' , whilst still suitably eclectic, struggles to offer the same level of excitement that previous Jaxx albums provided. It starts off well:  'Good Luck'  has all the elements of a classic track by the Brixton duo, containing lurching basslines and stabbing synths, with the newly added element of strings; an ingredient that usually screams ‘pretentiousness' but in the Jaxx's hands proves otherwise.  'Right Here's the Spot'  too, is stormingly typical of them, and is a song that could've sat easily on previous album ' Remedy '. Throw in single ' Lucky Star ', (the album's highlight) which is fi...

Chicks On Speed - 99 Cents, Album Review 2003. Full Review, Click Here. A few years back,  Chicks on Speed  found themselves on the German version of Top of the Pops thanks to their cover of  Malaria's  Kaltes Klarres Wasser. It's a feat that the band didn't manage to pull off over here in Britain, although they did release their debut album  Chicks on Speed Will Save Us All , a covers album that took in electronic noodling, ambient soundscapes and occasionally disco music. It showed potential, as did the soon-following Rarities album, but it just didn't flow well. It wasn't dull, but it did feel more like a compilation album than a debut proper. Three years later and the Chicks are back; they've cut down on the cover versions, written some songs of their own and made one big loud glam rock electro-pop explosion of an album. Opener  'Shooting from the Hip'  sets the scene for the next 50 minutes, cut-up guitars, rumbling bass and ne...