Super Furry Animals -- Phantom Power

I was never really that keen on The Super Furry's when they first graced Creation Records in the mid nineties -- their art versus pop mentality annoyed.

But like a fine wine it becomes more palatable with age and the recent single, 'Golden Retriever' -- a two minute romp through Donovan's back catalogue and homage to Norman Greenbaum's Spirit In The Sky -- is easily the best single they have ever released.

Phantom Power is also a remarkable improvement. 60s psychedelia and trademark Beach Boys harmonies are still very much present but there's also a wonderful tongue-in-cheek easy listening element here.

The Sing Something Simple-esque 'Sex, War and Roberts' and the shameless California Dreaming plagiarism of 'Piccolo Snare', work well within the albums context. Who would have thought it, The Super Furry Animals did have a classic album up their sleeves after all.

James Heward

Gang Starr --The Ownerz

One look at the name and the artist's picture and you know exactly what you're getting.

Hip-Hop is incredibly popular. I feel its success is more down to the rebellion than the song writing or delivery. The glorification of violence, bad language and sexism I find quite frankly appalling.

Every track is just a rant delivered over a monotonous beat and the limited vocabulary would be laughable were it not so obscene.

Virgin Records who are owned by EMI, the very same label that sacked The Sex Pistols for swearing on live television all those years ago, should hang their corporate heads in shame for releasing such dross when there is a wealth of real talent out there.

Graham Scaife

Future Kings Of Spain -- Future

Just a couple of points to clear up before we begin.

The Future Kings Of Spain are neither Spanish or indeed connected to the monarchy in anyway.

They are in fact a three piece indie rock band from Ireland -- the crazy pranksters!

Despite this act of cheeky deception the lads offer us an eclectic mix of indie styles spanning from the shoe-gazing grubbiness of the likes of Swervedriver and Dinosaur Jr, through to the melodic rock mystique of Kurt Cobain and pop breeziness of The Thrills.

The Future Kings Of Spain's debut album beautifully defies the current crop of nu-metal skate rock by re-exploring indie avenues previously closed due to a bigoted media's narrow-mindedness.

They are both refreshing and comfortably familiar at the same time. A bold step in the right direction.

James Heward