First new material since the LP some time ago. "To You Alone" is sophisticated pop that uses the tools of today in it's 4:54 construction. The sensabilites which are in the song are not much different than something like Wah! Or Echo & The Bunnymen in the 80's, except now there is no standout member like Mac or Pete Wylie: now the whole band downplay themselves; it's the sounds of the music that represents this band. The somewhat lengthier B-side "Sequinsizer" (at 6:53) comes in like an epic in several parts. It starts as an instrumental with tech-ish drumming and tasteful accents like a sax and some keys. Then a couple of minutes into it a flanged bass slinks in, followed by a vocal loop. The vocal blossoms into saying "Up, Down, Out" over and over and a background chorus scats its accompaniment. This goes on for a few minutes, with the tech-ish drumming still underneath it. Then the song abruptly drops out it's bottom into some kind of new age spread, with an instrument (probably a keyboard) sounding like a woodwind instrument. The sound gets tweaked once, tweaked twice, then the song just stops. Both sides of this single are pretty good to me. This is the first time I've ever heard The Beta Band so I can't judge it against their past. I think these two songs sound good in the present.

Daniel Treacy of Television Personalities did not just think about furthering his own band's career in their 80's heyday. He spirited first Whaam! Records, then later Dreamworld Records, labels which put out stuff by the bands Dan loved, as well as the TVP's. WZBC already has the "Whaam! Bam! Thank You Dan!" compilation which Vinyl Japan put together to chronicle Whaam! Records finest moments, but I had never been able to find the followup (which I was warned was even better than "Whaam" back when I added it to WZBC). Dreamworld Records released stuff from 1985-1987. It was a logical more upbeat extension of Daniel's previous idea, Whaam! ecords. You'll notice that the years of the label's existence perfectly sandwhich the infamous C-86 era. That sound is all over the bands on this comp; bands such as One Thousand Violins, A Riot Of colour, Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, The Looking Glass, Blue Train, and The Mighty Lemon Drops; not to mention Dan's own band, the everlasting TVP's (Television Personalities).

This is the it-came-out-of-nowhere success story of the backing band sacked form Spiritualized. Lipine Howl are Sean Cook, Mike Mooney, and Damon Reece. Wurlitzer keyboards on Vaporizer by John Bagott. The title song sounds like Paul Weller and Style Council vocally and soulfully, until the jam-out which fries everything and lets you know that this band knows how to get crazy together. The second song ("Mexican Cantina") is an instrumental which enters right into a reverb drenched darkened world without passing through the light area the title song played in. The third and final song is a long (6:50 compare to 3:50) version of 'Vaporizer'.

Fairly incredible compilation representing a new direction for Bungalow Records. This comp follows their "Pool Position" comp which capped the 12" Bungalow dance series by compiling the best of those songs along with a few exclusive songs. PopTics has all exclusive tracks (with the exception of Chicks On Speed 'Mind Your Own Business', which they've gotten tons of mileage out of), and is extremely fresh sounding. There's lots of new faces from all over the world, and some you'll know already (Yoshinori Sunahara, Dauerfisch, Dob, Pop Tarts, Helen Love, Yukari Fresh, and Andreas Dorau <collaborating with longtime friend and associate Moritz R.>) There is a website set up just for the comp (www.poptics.com) and a 70 page book. All artists participate in 3 areas. One song on the CD, One design in the book, and one web page on www.poptics.com. When Bungalow started up a few years ago with the RO3003 compilation they seemed so new and unique. This compilation restores my faith in them, and shows that they do have their eyes on current trends in music and are willing to stay ahead.

"Four tracks from the Japanese issue of "Bedroom" and one from the Tim Burton tribute album, none of these are included on the singles compilation. Jangly Swedish guitar-pop band that was originally an Acid House Kings offshot but then became scene-favourites in their own right" - Jorg Winzer, of Mind The Gap mailorder. I had heard the name Red Sleeping Beauty for ages, but had never actually heard them (except for the track here and there on Siesta compilations) till getting the singles comp which was added to WZBC last week. I like this single even better than the singles comp added last week. I've found myself listening to both a whole lot, along with Modesty Blaise and Ooberman who are still keeping my CD player warm.