This column reviews albums & singles released worldwide (i.e. not in a particular country). If your company wants an album reviewed on these pages, then you should read this. If you are in an unsigned band & you'd like your demo tape or CD reviewed, you should go here instead.

A great album from US band Arsyn shows a band ready to rock at the merest mention of the word. The style is not too distant from a whole swag of bands like Motley Crue, Guns N Roses & even Black Sabbath, who are referred to in the band's bio. Sporting a wonderful production across all the tracks & a great vocalist in Colin Whalen, there's a lot to check out, especially for fans of the heavier end of the spectrum.

The opening 2 tracks, "Kill Joy" & "Blind Fury", rock bigtime & if you like the best moments of the aforementioned Motley Crue, then you'll love the whole album. The pick here for me is "Knock Down Mr Foolish", in which the band slow their style down to a more grunty feel, while other highlights include "Hit The Ground" & the more punishing "Silent Scream". This is a great album, so if you're a fan of any of the bands mentioned here, then check out Arsyn's music, it's well worth your while.

For more information, write to Rock Solid Entertainment, PO Box 19192, Encino, CA 91416, USA or kelly@rocksolident.com

BLACKHOUSE - DREAMS LIKE THESE

The sounds of US based band Blackhouse, are certainly nothing if not minimalist, almost in the extreme. This album is a listening experience that many will wonder how to cope with, but the joys of getting into it are certainly well worth it once you sit back & relax.

Stylewise, there's not really anything like it to compare to, but the music here is almost like a non-stop barrage of sporadic samples, with very sparse arrangements. In particular a pick for me is the rather unusually constructed "Flatliner", though "VT101" is another interesting selection. Certainly experimental music in a different style.

For more information, write to Blacklight Records, PO Box 6552, Kokomo, IN 49604, USA or label@blacklight.com

CYNTHIA CATANIA - (SELF TITLED)

Based out of Los Angeles in the US, Cynthia Catania has both the talent & the voice to put her right into the upper levels of the music industry & it's well worth your while checking out her music while she's still relatively unknown, though even that's gonna be difficult as she's well & truly on the way as I write this, with inclusions of her music on the Party Of Five TV series & on a number of CD compilations.

This is a great album, with just a hint of a country feel, though that's kept at a fair distance, the music run mostly by an acoustic guitar feel & Cynthia's wonderful voice, which is the real feature of the album. While opener "Time Out In Vegas" is the first highlight, they don't come much better than the superior sounds of "Down On Me", which in the end I think is my favourite song here.

Other real highlights include such songs as "Without Sleep", a song I can really relate to, as well as "Mermaid". Cynthia has already been active & gotten herself an indie label started, so give her some support & make the effort to listen to her music - you won't be sorry.

For more information, write to Olivoil Records, PO Box 36503, Los Angeles, CA 90036, USA or dolceveta@earthlink.net

EMETREX - THE BIRDS YOUR BROTHERS

Totally bloody amazing this. A 5 track ep from US outfit Emetrex, makes me wonder just where they've been & why I haven't come across them before this. Unfortunately it's a promo version, with no tracklisting at all, but the music is just outstanding, with some of the most sublime pop rock I've ever come across, reminding me a little of both The Jesus & Mary Chain & Weezer, both exceptional bands in themselves.

The songs here are very cool, from the opener, which has a great guitar feel & an incredible set of vocals, through into the 2nd track, a softer but still wonderful fuzzy natured pop song with an electronic edginess to it, right on until the closing track, this is one band who could easily be world conquering. Make the band your business as soon as you can.

For more information, write to Seriously Groovy Music, 3rd Floor - 28 D-Arblay St, Soho, London, W1V 3FH, UK or dave.holmes@virgin.net or seriously.groovy@virgin.net

FATAL BLAST WHIP - CONSTELLATION

It's been a little while since I came across Fatal Blast Whip, but the sound hasn't deteriorated since my last encounter. This is the band's latest album & if anything, the songs here are a little more aggressive than the last album & there's a little bit of a move towards more percussion oriented sounds, evidenced on a couple of tracks here, which is a great direction for the band.

The sound as before, is still quite heavily rooted in the industrial goth mutation that the band favoured, this album having some superb examples of their sound, in particular the opener, which is the title track, as well as "Seduction", "Dia Countess" & the brilliant "Crashsite", which is my favourite track here. If you like to sound of bands like Nine Inch Nails, then this album will let you explore a little further afield.

For more information, write to Blacklight Records, PO Box 6552, Kokomo, IN 49604, USA or label@blacklight.com

GINI DODDS - MELLOWDRAMA

I'm not too sure about the past history of Gini Dodds, a US based artist, but the present history concerning this album is about all you'll really need to know. Running across a dozen songs, this album will make a lot of people very happy when they check out the music as there's some very cool styles here.

From the opening track "Extraordinary You", you'll find a lot to like, with some of the songs featuring a sort of country rock feel, though by & large there's more of an insistent pop rock rhythm, on songs like my pick "Celebrity Pictures" & the slower edged yet stunning "Dry Ground". Another big highlight here is the remarkable "Out Of My Head", though there's still a lot more to find out here. This is certainly a fabulous album & one that will stand the test of time - can't wait for the next.

For more information, write to PO Box 6182, Minneapolis, MN 55406, USA

THE GOVERNMENT - UNDERWATER THEMES FOR AN OVERRATED FILM

It's very unusual for a 5 piece instrumental band to form these days, but Sydney 5 piece The Government have done so & the result of their first album is excellent, giving pause to think where they might be another year down the track as they've only been together for just over a year now.

I love the title of this album, the music contained across it's length is great, running, as the band say themselves, references to bands like Pink Floyd & King Crimson, but there's also the hint of some early U2 on songs like closing number "Rust Sometimes Dozes Off" & "The New Brutalists".

My favourite of all though, is the brilliant "The Architects Of Romance", which pulls in sounds that some of the UK trip hop masters like Portishead would be proud of. This is definitely well worth your while checking out & see a band in their earliest evolution. We can only guess where they go from here.

For more information, write to Comrade Records, 335 Livingstone Rd, Marrickville, NSW, 2204, Australia or bent@comraderecords.com

THE GREAT GLASS ELEVATOR - (SELF TITLED)

A sort of lo-fi cross between The Doors & The Smiths for want of a better description this album, featuring some great melodies & some of the best lo-fi moments I've yet come across. Coming out of the US, The Great Glass Elevator, have a distinctive sound that will grow on you by the second song in.

That track is an instrumental called "The Rain": & is one of the many highlights to be found here. Others include both opener "Tomorrow & A Day", "Walking On Pepper" & the slightly Bob Dylan-esque "Buried Under", a song which could do quite well for the band live I expect. The band are currently recording their 3rd release due later this year, so I'll be fascinated at where they head next.

For more information, write to Orange Entropy Records, PO Box 1198, Hightstown, NJ 08520, USA or orangeentropy@aol.com

HEIFER - MARK MARK

A lot of people have probably already discovered the magic of Sydney based band Heifer, thanks to the Triple J coverage of their song that is the title track for this great ep. The band have not only been successful on radio, but their music is making an impact on the Internet as well, the band already getting their own website up & running.

There's a whole bunch of cool tunes here, from the crunching second track in called "Stalker", through to the humorous "Nancy Boy Surprise", which has a great little devious streak running throughout, but the band excel themselves with closer "Prick", which is my favourite here, accompanied by a superb selection of riffs & a great percussion element. Definitely the beginnings of something larger methinks.

For more information, write to Q-Stix Management, PO Box C153, Werrington County, NSW, 2747, Australia or qstix1@ozemail.com.au

LINDSEY THOMPSON - ROOM IN A BASEMENT

This is a great collection of songs from Lindsey Thompson, whose voice is her biggest asset & one that she exploits to it's fullest on a few songs here. The style is generally an electronically driven feel, running over the top of both Lindsey & a variety of instruments, which the exception of one track in particular.

Singing at her absolute best here is the song in question, called "Charlie", which is a beautifully sparse song, with Lindsey performing her vocals over a haunting piano backing & she showcases her vocal talents to the utmost here, demonstrating a fairly vast range.

Also standing out are the title track, "I Say Nothing", the stunning "Pure White Satin" & "Common Knowledge". There aren't too many reference points, but Kate Bush is possibly one of the best comparisons on this occasion, Lindsey though, stamping her own style on the entire album. An excellent female talent is at hand.

For more information, write to Dee O'Reilly Management, PO Box 10653, London, W5 4WR, UK or info@dorm.co.uk

OFF THE HOOK - (VARIOUS ARTISTS)

This is the second compilation I've come across from 25 Records & this is the equal of the first, with some truly wonderful bands across the length of the CD, which contains a whole swag of bands, 19 in fact. It's very impressive right throughout & I urge you to check it out as soon as you get a chance.

We open up with "Luv Buzz", from a band called Osmosis & their sound is pretty cool, though at the other end of the album, there's another that's just as great, Dr Jan (Guru), who gives one of the most impressive numbers with an electronic flavour called "Stream Of Consciousness", as does the wondrous sound of Maldune's "Under The Sea".

Sitting in the middle is another of my favourites here, "Sourdine", coming from a band called "Shiver Slinky", which is just amazing, reminding me a little of Portishead with a more rocking feel, while "Everything In Nature Cries", from Ascension is also great. With the exception of Shake The Chimes, I'd never heard of any of these great bands, so there's a whole stack to discover here - make the effort.

For more information, write to 25 Records, PO Box 3006, Poole, BH12 2HU, England or info@25records.com

PROXIMA - MUSIC FOR PLEASURE

It takes a lot to surprise me these days, but this album sure did. When I see anything arrive from France, I almost always expect to hear either disco classic style or ethereal electronic sounds. What I heard on this CD is some of the most sublime guitar driven pop I've heard in quite a while & Proxima's music is nothing if not incredibly infectious.

The opener "And Now You're A Mother" absolutely blew me away & what follows this track just keeps on getting better & better. Another absolute gem is "You're Gonna Live Into My Dream Now" & it presents no difficulty going from the softer sounds of this track to the more insistent & aggressive sounds of "Boom Boom Bang Bang You're Dead", which is again amazing.

One of my favourites here is the stunning "You Told Me Lies", which is an epic of sorts, while closer "She's Far Away" really lights up the closing of the album. A great comparison would be the sound of Irish band Ash, though there's a different vibe to this band's sound, that's sort of infused with the melodicism of The Beatles & the pop skills of Nirvana. Truly a find.

For more information, write to Alcatraz Productions, 119bis rue de Colombes, F92600, Asnieres, France or proxima@alcatrazprod.com

SUPER DELTA THREE - EVE SUB REBEL

This album, from Super Delta Three, isn't remotely what I was expecting, which is way cool. There's an incredible variety to be found here & it's more than an a good listening experience to come across such great music, with so many style changes throughout.

It's not an album you can really pigeonhole, but there's more than meets the eye here, with some electronic sounds making themselves felt on "When You Sleep", to the more rocking "Superdeltafreak", which a lot of people will get right into.

Changing the pace at the close of the album is the great "Charlie T", though my particular favourite here altogether I think would have to be "Hip-no Therapy", while the title track is also impressive. There's a load of cool music to discover here & anyone interested in a large variety of styles in their music will be in seventh heaven with this band.

For more information, write to Dee O'Reilly Management, PO Box 10653, London, W5 4WR, UK or info@dorm.co.uk

TALES - ECHOES FROM THE LAST FAIRYLAND

Quite a few albums worth of Tales material I've listened to now & the quality just keeps on at the same high level. Way back in 1996, I came across Tales on the Pictures Of Asia & I distinctly remember thinking just how well the mood of the subject was captured.

That feeling continues on with this latest release, capturing a slice of the fictitious world inhabited by characters like those found in The Hobbit & other such works, the perfect example of this being the track "Wizard Of All Times", which is an eery listening experience. Sitting alongside this are other mood capturing songs like "Spheres Of Knowledge". Still working incredibly well & great mood music next time you're reading something that seems off in the Tolkien type of world.

For more information, write to jlhb@free.fr or sitrec@free.fr

TEMPLE OF THE TIMES - REQUIEM FOR THE LOST CHILDREN

A US based outfit, Temple Of The Times produce what I would call 'classy' goth sounds, a little like Sisters Of Mercy, though the sound is at times just a little more aggressive than that reference might indicate. This is basically an ep, with a few various remixes of the title track tacked on for good measure.

Standing out head & shoulders above the others here is the very cool sounding title track, which is featured later on with some superb remixes, though my preference is for the original. There's also a couple of other great tracks, such as "7th Seal" & "Bloodstained", though the quiet vocals do offset these when compared to the title track. A great release with much promise for what might evolve from here.

For more information, write to Blacklight Records, PO Box 6552, Kokomo, IN 49604, USA or label@blacklight.com

WOBBLESHOP - BITTERGREEN

A wonderful selection of pop tunes hewn from the classic Beatles influenced feel, with a more modern outlook & a different style, but all the hallmarks of classic pop are there, complete with catchy choruses, excellent vocals & an overall vibe that will see a great many fans very happy with what they hear on this album.

There are so many songs from which to choose here, there's barely room to pick a favourite from the whole album, but both "Cycle" & "Goodnight Children" are both very good & probably my favourite pair of tracks sitting in the middle of the album.

Other songs like "Eva", "Brasil For The Taking" & the closing track "White Flower" will all make an impact on you, as will the opener "Belong", which will most certainly grab your attention from the outset. There's a lot to explore here & discover, after a few listens & it won't take you too long to hook onto what is an amazing album as a whole, not just as individual songs.

For more information, write to "Big Record Company, 1460 7th St, #201 Santa Monica, CA 90401-2631, USA or Wobbleshop@BigRecordCompany.com