BRAINWASHED 002
Things are right on schedule for the second 7" single release from Brainwashed Recordings - and we're taking pre-orders this time. The single is from Edward Ka-Spel of Legendary Pink Dots and comes on a golden yellow clear vinyl. "Share the Day" backed/with "Dream Stealer" is limited to 1,027 hand-numbered copies and comes with a new sticker and a new post card. Sound samples are available on the website. Brainwashed 001 should actually be out of stock from us by the time June 1 rolls around...

Go Beat! (a PolyGram company in the UK - once responsible for Portishead) has released two brand-spanking new things from London trio, Fridge. First up is the 15-minute two track single, "Kinoshita/Terasaka", which provides a great introduction to the new dimension Fridge are undertaking. On this, the boys move forward with slicker production, more attention to detail and smooth flowing organic keyboards. Fear not, they still sound like three energetic music enthusiast geeks jamming with the energy from the last few releases.
"Eph," their first full-lengther from Go Beat continues with the evolution. While the production is drastically different, slightly more electronic and undoubtedly more polished than ever before, the catchy melodies and driving beats are still there. From the opening, you're introduced by layered drums and swirling melodies, the beats get louder, more layers are introduced but it never gets out-of-control into a chaotic mess. The melodies are intelligent, there's a new "prettiness" factor to their music, and you're even left humming tunes which stand out among the rest - quite a feat for a post-rocky instrumental 21-year old power-trio. Look for it on import cos who knows when it'll ever receive a stateside release. - Jon Whitney

LABRADFORD, "E LUXO SO"
Clocking in at a little under 40 minutes, E luxo so continues in the same direction laid out by the band with Me media naranja. This time around the key word seems to be ambience. Loops and soft, muffled beats reverberate throughout the six pieces as if bouncing around the walls of a room. The band seems to have expanded their sound a bit since the last album with the inclusions of a string section and dulcimers. The song's each remain to be subtle evolutions and the different tracks blend together with a very organic feel. Quite possibly the best song on the album, track 3 creates a somber mood, a soundtrack for those long and sad goodbyes, those melancholy breakups. The haunting piano melody and simple chords laid over a string quartets stark harmonies make you want to run memories of loved ones through your mind as if the memories were filmed on old 35mm film. E Luxo so provides the most beautifully minimalist album I've heard this year.- Carter Adams

ELECTRONIC, "TWISTED TENDERNESS"
When you first put the album on, you're attacked with a couple of seconds of stupidity - presumably to fool you into thinking that this is going to be as bad the previously albums - but then a few seconds later you're heading down a journey into a New Order for 1999. "Make it Happen" is a thoroughly modern mix of big-beats, Marr's wah-wah pedal and Bernard excellent sense of melody and song-writing finesse.
The best thing about this album is that it doesn't overdo anything. The first Electronic album was too Synth-poppy for it's own good, the second was so slickly produced that you could use it as a lubricant. "Twisted Tenderness" uses bits of the synthy side of Electronic, pieces of New Order pop, a liberal sprinkle of Marr's excellent and varied guitar styles, some late-1990's big beats, the merest hint of "rock", Sumner's best ever lyrics, and the pair's brilliant pop sensibilities. This album makes the last two Electronic albums (and Republic) redundant. It isn't perfect by any means - it does miss a certain something (though I don't know what) - but I reckon it is the best thing that the pair could do. - Nic Doye

808 STATE, "NEWBUILD"
From the vaults comes this album, 808 State's 1988 debut for the first time on CD. While it's not nearly as melodic as some of their breakthrough albums like ex:el or Don Solairs, this album provides a good archive of their first effort. The rhythms are primitive to 1999's (or even 1991's standards) but are quite hypnotizing. The analog Roland 808s, 303s and 909s play with each other in a warm sync-bath, flowing and moving quite gracefully. The sound quality isn't all that great, however and during tracks like Dr. Lowfruit, you can hear the tape degeneration beginning to have its effect. Kudos to Rephlex for wanting to put this out and 808 State for not being too embarassed about it. It's not _so_ bad remembering your past... - Jon Whitney

YOU'VE GOT CRABS
I am too embarassed to even say the title "You've Got Mail" in the headline. God was this awful. I decided to watch it on the plane ride back from England because, well, the Parker Posey factor. It has been said that Parker can make any movie watchable just by her being in it but this movie didn't feature enough. Even when it did, her character was too thin and tossed together. Just an excuse as "somebody's girlfriend". As for the rest of the movie, it blew - Tom Hanks is cast as a powerful executive and Smeg Ryan is a store owner. Ever notice how no Hollyweird actors play average people any more? They're always the big cheese of whatever they're doing in life. This movie was so incredibly painful, disgustingly predictable, and downright nauseous. The only good line was from seasoned professional Jean Stapleton who said "Don't worry about me, I'm rich - I bought Intel at $4.00." - Jon "car traveler" Whitney

Okay, I don't know who out there thinks brainwashed is even listening to demos or signing new acts, but it's not happening - and even if it were, is this the right approach?