Cinerama Va Va Voom (Universal-True North) Pop fan’s all raise your glasses to this ingenious second recording by the acclaimed British group Cinerama. Producing a mellow, yet enticing drama with his music, David Gedge calls upon such _ influences such as Abba, Barry White, and Burt Bacharach to create an entirely new recording of bittersweet love songs. This is one of those CD’s which you pop into your changer on the road and then sit back for the long drive to...wherever...and all of a sudden you don't really care where you are going anymore because Gedge’s compositions have caused your thoughts to wander to those sentimental corners of your. mind which you usually shove onto the back-burner. You know - the girl (of guy) who you can never have, the romance you screwed up in the past, or the great times you have had with another...but mabye it only highlights the great time you are having right now. Depends on who is listening... Regardless, the world seems like a much more rhythmical, smaller place when you are listening to Va Va Voom. Cinerama offers the world bittersweet but romantic music for those who wish to live for the moment. Jives Alive The Best of Swing 1998! (Universal) Upbeat, down dirty, and classy without a doubt, Swing music has been coming back into the lime- light during the past year with artists such as Big Rude Jake (Who conse- quently opened live for Big Sugar in Prince George a couple of years ago.) and more recently, the extremely popular Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. So to what do we owe the pleasure of listening to this unmistakable musical frenzy which was sup- posed to have died a few decades ago? Most prob- are getting sick of the usual alternative bands coming out with similar sounds and forcing them- selves upon our tired ears. Then again, one could argue that swing never died, it just went into some kind of noctur- nal hibernation. However you wish to view the brassy tunes that are causing a sort of musical rejuvenation, the fact remains that people everywhere are going crazy for this down to earth style of music in the post computerized syn- thetic music style which the 80’s left in it’s wake. A compilation of “new- swing” could be seen coming for a while now. All that was needed was some good new swing music to produce one. Jive’s Alive features such new and known artists such as The Brian Setzer Orchestra, the Johnny Favourite Swing Orchestra, Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, and Big Rude Jake, accompanied by lots of new swingers on the scene, each with their own distinctive style and fast jazzy sound. This is the CD which you want to pick up to check out the new scene - a well mas- tered and thought out compilation. So bust out that zoot suit..;what are you waiting for? ably the fact that people Individuals and The Church H ram of Baal (True North/Universal) hologram of baal - For a group which has released over 13 albums and compilations alike, it’s surprising that people haven't heard of The Church in Canada. This is partly due to its lack of dis- tribution up here. An Australian band origi- nally from Sydney, the times before Hologram of Baal were a long road for The Church. Originally signed to EM! Music Australia back in 1980, The Church introduced a new and appreciated style to the nations whom they sang for - mostly Europe and Australia. Consisting of Richard Ploog (drums), Peter Koppes (guitar), Steve Kilbey (bass/vocals), and Marty Wilson-Piper (guitar), they have a deep and mas- terful style leading into itself so as not to jar your eardrums on a rhythmical backlash. The band claims to owe part of the extra sensory depth of its sound to Marty’s fabulous “in-touch with the band” guitar play- ing. A slow tour through the mundane, Hologram of Baal refuses to be a depressing CD.. Although often retaining slow tempos in its tunes, this doesn't mean that the songs are not always upbeat. Perhaps this is part of The Church’s mysterious style of musical perfection - assisted by a masterful pro- duction and almost twenty years of musical experi- ence which gained the band a couple of appear- ances on Billboard’s top 20 lists - not a feat which should go unregarded. Marilyn Manson Mechanical Animals (Nothing/interscope) I'm going to come out and say it out front. | like Marilyn Manson. | think it’s neat, it sounds pretty good most of the time and it has been in no way detrimental to my health. Right from the opening track, “Great Big World”, Mechanical Animals gets right to the task of following up Antichrist Superstar. _ Over The Edge ~ undSeape is a new review column encompassing music and its many talents. Features will include reviews of artists, live venues, record- ings and upcoming releases with a focus on Canadian and local artists when it is viable. Future publications will include fea- tures of artists and outlines of events in the area. : commercial interests can contact SoundScape c/o Over The Edge at 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC, V2N 429 This album is chock full of LAN riffs and lyrics that are all trying to send messages: the principle one being Manson's new look - Glam. This becomes most appar- ent with the track “New Model No. 15” with lyrics like “I’m as fake as a wed- ding cake.” Songs like “Rock is Dead”, Manson’s answer to the industry standard of angst ridden bands, and “The Dope Show” show tremendous depth in song- writing. Indeed, the entire album has taken on a feel reminisent of David Bowie's works. The chorus to “Posthuman” chants “God is just a statistic’ over and over in a Bowiesque feel. Perhaps one of the most satirical songs is “Il Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)” which is full of Layered voices and R&B back-up _ singers. Manson’s message on drugs is pretty clear. The final track of the album is “Coma White” which sounds a lot like a Metallica/Pink Floyd hybrid of sorts. Mechanical Animals will probably prove to be one of the most popular albums by Manson. The wide range of sounds across the fourteen tracks are pleasing to listen to and rarely annoying. However, it is hardly likely that all will be swayed to lis- ten as Manson's reputation well preceeds him to mar- ket.