SOUND JUDGEMENT

THE LATEST ALBUM RELEASES RATED AND REVIEWED

PAUL GREEN/GREG SEGAL Symbols and Sounds HHHHH PROFOUND and funny, serious and surreal, the mix of Sussex-based Green’s words and Portland, Oregon, sound architect Segal gives a refreshing and illuminating ride. Self- proclaimed “last of the analogue men”, Green brings humorous political bite to the fore in his mischievous words. Sci-fi scenarios draw from a gumbo of influences and allow Segal to devise dissonant and disorientating backdrops in which the spirits of writers John Wyndham and William Burroughs, plus jazz giants Pharoah Sanders and Thelonious Monk are summoned. G-EAZY The Beautiful & Damned HHHHH SEMI-FAMOUS in the UK, this Bay Area rapper has designed a big concept double album for his latest release. Built around his wild life as a rock ’n’ roll bad boy and regretful coming-of-age survivor persona, it isn’t short of lyrical gaucheness or predictability. Current single Him & I,a duet with New Jersey singer Halsey, is inspired by the story of Romeo and Juliet. The G Man’s tireless self-analysis edges toward being tiresome, but the assured beats and riffs give comfortable padding to his slick and expressive delivery. SKIDS Scared To Dance HHHHH THE 1979 debut album from the Dunfermline group is an urgent post-punk pearl. Fronted by future Big Country star Stuart Adamson and TV presenter Richard Jobson months before the election of Margaret Thatcher, STD captured the unsettling and fraught mood of the times. Fusing Jobbo’s tempestuous vocals with the late Adamson’s splenetic guitars spawned a series of hits, including opening track Into The Valley. This CD re- issue box comes complete with demos and live discs.