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.

BIDSTON MOSS - A NICE LIE DOWN

Getting on for 5 or 6 releases for the band now & quite a few compilations & other projects, Bidston Moss have quite a style & on this latest album, they make me reminiscent about the sadly missed Sydney outfit The Clouds, such is the quality of their great harmonies on some of the songs, particularly opening cut "Death To The MF", which is a big standout, but there's much more to explore here.

A couple of tracks take a much different track than the band's more usual feel good fuzzy guitar pop, with a Billy Bragg-esque number called "Yabby Pie", which is a markedly different sort of song from the band. There are some other wonderful tracks here, including "Sunday" & "HowHard?", but really anything here is right on target.

For more information, write to PO Box 108, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia or bmoss@pobox.com

CREME FIEND - IN DOE WE TRUST

A pretty cool hip hop album from US based outfit Creme Fiend, about who I know nothing. Whatever the case may be with the band, there are similarities between this band's style & that of Cypress Hill, though Creme Fiend's sound resonates more within the 'gangsta' sound, but with their own stamp marked firmly on the styles.

A few tracks stand out, most notably "C.F. To The Death", which has a real kicker to it, as does the title track, but it's second number in "It's Us", which has the rousing quality of Naughty By Nature's best songs that really pulls this album sharply into focus & makes it one you should check out if you're into hip hop.

For more information, write to InDaLab Records at www.indalab@earthlink.net

THE DAMNED - GRAVE DISORDER

A band who will most likely not need any introduction as they seem to have been around for quite some years now, but for those not in the know, the band's sound is a little reminiscent of The Ramones, though it's a little slower than that band's music & probably a little more in line with more gothic outfits lyrics wise.

There's some great stuff here, with opener "Democracy?" one of the big highlights, though there are other even more impressive tracks. A couple of the tracks didn't really trip my buzzer, but there's some very good stuff in amongst the tracklisting, like "Amen", which is a standout alongside "Neverland" & my personal favourite "Thrill Kill". If you're an old fan, you'll feel right at home, but if you're a new listener this is a great intro.

For more information, write to Nitro Records, 7071 Warner Ave, F PMB 736, Huntington Beach, CA 92647, USA or leavehome4@aol.com

DREAM AUTHORITY MUSIC - A LOOK INTO INDEPENDENT MUSIC

A pretty good compilation from a US based indie label called Dream Authority Music, which is a great name & the label have gathered some very cool bands together from a number of places in the US. The sounds & styles don't follow any particular style, which is a very good start.

I loved quite a few of the bands here, including the label's own project City Of Hairdryers, whose track "Living conditions" is a very atmospheric sort of affair, while standouts were "Desensitized" from Baboon Heart, which is a winner all round, as well as "Anything Could Be A Clock" from The Second Hand Novas & Pignut's "Daydream" which features some superb riffing. Certainly a very different compilation that you ought to take a look at.

For more information, write to Dream Authority Music, PO Box 444, Brattleboro, VT 05302, USA or jstout@sover.net

ELEVATOR TRIBE - (SELF TITLED) / NEW DAY OF DARKNESS

A fascinating couple of album's worth of music from a band out of Vermont in the US, the band doing very different sorts of things than a lot of others out there. The sounds here are somewhere between beat poetry, jazz & total experimentation, especially on a couple of tracks.

The self titled album is billed as a 'concept album' & to that end, it works, but the songs individually work well too. It was particularly interesting to hear the Didgeridoo make an appearance on a few of the songs, especially on "Paujala", while other notable tracks include "Elevator Ride", which is probably my favourite on this album. One of the most startling tracks of all is the epic length closer "A Far Away Time", which features a chaotic bell sequence that would make great moody moments within a film soundtrack.

Contrasting this is the very interesting New Day Of Darkness album that's a little different in the experimentation stakes, with a more traditional musical framework being worked with. There are a number of great tracks here, with almost all of the vocal work coming from Christine Jacobsen. Picks for me were an instrumental closing number called "Dream Window", "The Mind That Put Me Here" & the title track, but any of these will grab your attention.

For more information, write to Dream Authority Music, PO Box 444, Brattleboro, VT 05302, USA or jstout@sover.net

PSYCHO DAISIES - IT'S NO FUN TO BE PARANOID

A band coming out of the US & in particular Florida, with a raw edged sound that reminds me of some of Neil Young's more rock infused material & as the band themselves mention, The Stooges & MC5, though this band's sound is a little more pared back than either of those.

This is the band's 4th release, with the band forming in 1983 & going on to this album, which features some solid rock, with a bluesy feel on the closing 2 songs "Swamp Song" & the title number. My preference was a couple of track sitting in the middle, "Death Letter" & "Some People", though you may find others to your taste. Many will love to check out the rough edges here & it's refreshing to find a band prepared to let it hang out while still holding together as well.

For more information, write to 2089 N.E. 123 Street, Miami, Florida, 33181, USA or jillkahn@ix.netcom.com