6 TRACK E.P.

Elastica

Four years they’ve been away and the best title they can come up with for the comeback single is 6 Track E.P.? It’s a good job the music makes up for it else I’d be annoyed. However, considering this is meant to bring us up to date with how they’ve progressed musically since 1995, it’s amazing how little they’ve changed (obviously I’m not counting the band’s line-up here, that changes only slightly less than the Manchester United team strip). Most of the songs are standard issue Elastica, which is OK, but Miami Nice is the only song here capable of popping up and belting you round the chops with its originality. And it’s a synthpop instrumental too. Perhaps we should just be grateful they’re back, eh?

PROFIT IN PEACE

Ocean Colour Scene

Hey pop-pickers! The sixties live! Groovy! That, anyway, is what this band would have you believe. I’ve been surfin’ the Net and guess what, they’re so retro that their Official Web Site is entirely black and white! Hey guys, you’re like, rockin’ the very foundations of The Establishment with your radical vibes! Cool, man! Hey, dig that crazy Summer Of Love! Right, that’s it. Get out. Now. "But hey, man" they protest, "we brought you our latest 45 to review, man." So I listen. What’s this? Is it… no… an anti-war song? It is! How very noble! But guys, we’re not actually at war with anyone right now. A minor flaw, I know, but it does seem to put a crimp on things. And these lyrics! "All those people nursing shattered bones don’t wanna fight no more"? Gosh, you really got into the soldier’s psyche there, didn’t you? Get away from me and take your outdated piece of vinyl with you. Paul Weller, if you’re reading, please come back and show these boys how to do this sort of music properly.