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BRUNATEX - COMFORTABLE

There are times while listening to music that you just can't help but feel the injustice of seeing some of the trash that's released onto the market succeed with the help of 'behind the scenes' forces as compared to the stunning beauty of this band's quite amazing debut ep.

The vocal style of Fiona Scobie, coupled with the backing of Tanya Giobbi has been compared with Kate Bush, which is a very valid comparison & fans of Kate will be right at home here. I'd also have to liken the musical sound of the band as a whole to that of the sadly missed Clouds, with the attendant harmonies & great guitar section.

Opening track "So Smart", "Comfortable" & closer "MIRV" are all great highlights, but the unusual melody of "Better Than Ever (Shiny & New)", which uses not only that fabulous voice but the whole band to it's optimum shows a band hellbent on creating the best music they are capable of.

Standing out best of all though is the only track I haven't mentioned, "Frozen Gold", a near 7 minute epci that would make many other bands out there truly envious of the obvious talent which abounds on this ep. The band are preparing a new album which should be out mid 99. Brunatex are a band on the brink of very great things.

For more information, write to PO Box 215 Brooklyn Park, SA 5032, Australia or brunatex@camtech.net.au

THE CRAYON THEATRICAL - (SELF TITLED)

A very good 6 track demo tape from a band called The Crayon Theatrical, a rather unusual name for a band, which is basically just one guy from Ohio in the US by the name of Michael Homyk. Probably about the most amazing thing about this tape is the sheer quality of the recording, which is easily the equivalent of the majority of commercial releases.

The songs themselves are a cool blend of pop, coupled with folk-ish undertones & atmosphere & Micheal here displays a great knack for what works in the melody end of his songs, with a great guitar section riding behind many of the songs.

Probably my pick from this would have to be either "Jigsaw Girl" or "Vampire", which both use slightly off kilter harmonising & backup instrumental sections, though the feel of closing number "Sea Of Ingenuity" also shows an artist with good leanings of experimental sound that works as well as the rest of the songs. Looking forward to hearing a bit more from this band.

For more information, write to Michael Homyk, 659 Natalie Lane, Lebanon, Ohio 45036, USA or michael@erinet.com

THE DON BOYLE BAND - BLUES - THAT'S WHAT I LIKE!

US based 4 piece consisting of frontman Don Boyle, co-vocalist Gemma Hoyden, bass player Brandon Mills & drummer Mike Linsey, though the lineup differs on the album, a very tight live unit as evidenced by the live performances on the included video tape, which was recorded at a venue called 3rd Street, which includes such covers as Walking The Dog & Mustang Sally, a couple of trackjs which really got the crowd moving.

The album itself is a great collective of all original material which reminds me a lot of the livelier moments on Robert Cray albums, the music sort of a fusion of great blues artists like BB King & to a lesser extent John Lee Hooker.

Pick tracks from the 11 featured here for me were "Just Hangin' Around", "One Track Mind" & "Out On The Sidewalk", which is presented in a couple of different versions, though I love the vocal effect on the original edit the best. I've always loved well performed rock & classic blues & this album proves to be one of those which does it well.

For more information, write to PO Box 223, Janesville, IA 50647, USA or donboyle@geocities.com

THE GLUEY BROTHERS - LIVE! SLEECE

A very interesting band coming out of the US, made up of what appear to be 5 members, the band's sound not really similar to anything save a pretty funky version of Fishbone, who they match at timnes for eccentricity & innovation in their sound, which ranges from the downright bizarre, to the sublime funkiness.

This album is a collection of live material, plus some interesting snippets in between, on a couple of occasions disturbed (such as the 1995 recorded "Stabbing Trilogy") by somewhat muddied live recording, perhaps the result of a bad recording position from the side of the stage or something.

There's some really great tracks here, from the Chili Peppers-ish sound of "Donut Quota", to the straight up funk of "Hash House Line", while others like the great drum solo of "Cathy's Song" & my personal favourite, the very humourous "Penny & The Young Buck" show a band ready to surprise, but not at the expense of the quality of their music. Apparently there's an album in the works, so I look forward to see what they band are up to from here.

For more information, write to D Sean Browning, 10543 Woodbridge St, North Hollywood, CA 91602, USA or shootsean@earthlink.net

PROPHECY - STRANDED IN COOLSVILLE

An Oklahoma based band with a very slickly produced album of material, with a pretty wide ranging sound of more or less straight up rock & roll, combined with a very impressive vocal performance. The album opens up with a reasonably aggressive sounding track called "Coolsville", which sets the tone for the rest of the album.

What's great about this album as well as the music is the exceptional presentation, in which the band have separated everything into it's own area & there's about the right amount of promotional material as well as solid information about the band.

Pick tracks from the album for me are that opening cut, plus a track near the end of the album called "1500", as well as the huge sound behind "The Okie Boogie", though also notable is a short instrumental called "Los Suenos de La Vida no Realizados", a very interesting little piece that really changes your ideas about the album.

For more information, write to 211 S Dallas, Moore, OK 73160, USA or fine@tanet.net