The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 161

K5 THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Sunday, August 4, 1996 i ii 1 1 11 ssi mw jp A guide to the explosion in pop music that's got the British all excited Robin Williams is brilliant in this extremely funny Paul Wunder, WBAI RADIO Fob'lN W'lLUAMS Robin Williams C4 "The summer's happiest surprise. Your whole family will love 'JACK'." Mike Cidoni, WOK.R-TV (ABC) gives his best performance in this Oscar-worthy Brad Nimmons, WFLA-TV (NBC) shop, whose Punjabi-folk-meets-the-Velvet-Underground is one of Britain's finest blends. The spacey, atmospheric dance innovation known as trip-hop is most closely associated with the DJ and artist Tricky, whose Maxinequaye was one of the most darkly compelling albums of 1995. The next Tricky solo album doesn't hit the United States until '97, but the Bristol soundmeister, whose music has aa aura of disturbed dissonance, is involved with two other projects. The dark, dank Nearly God (Durban Poison Vi), to be released Aug.

13, pairs Tricky's unsettling down-tempo disruptions with Neneh Cherry, Bjork and Martine, among others. More hip-hop-oriented is the EP Tricky Presents Grassroots (Payday on which the Trickster is paired with a team of New York rappers. Trip-hop is being incorporated into rock settings, not always successfully. 12 Rounds (PolydorU.K. kVz) attempts to mesh PJ Harvey-style punk blues with trip-hop and creates an' ear-grating mess.

Much more enticing is Moloko, the Sheffield collective fronted BRITPOP from K1 (LTJ Bukem), and trip-hop (Tricky), all of which have already had an impact Stateside. Here, then, is a guide to what's going on in the United Kingdom: The Britpopsters. Just as Nirvana created a glut of grunge groups in the United States, the success of Oasis, has flooded British pop with retro-oriented bands that specialize in soaring harmonies. The best bets to win the hearts and dollars of American audiences are the energetic trio Supergrass and the new-wavey Elas-tica, both of which have sophomore albums due early next year. Other contenders include a quartet of Liverpool lads Britpop is exceedingly lad-heavy led by John Power, the former bass player for the La's.

On All Change (Polydor especially on the infectious opener "Alright," Power displays a knack for pop hooks, but his jones for the early Who renders too much of All Change imitative. The Bluetones are equally retro, but have songs to make the nostalgia stick. On Expecting to Fly the comfortable gloom of Mark Morriss' lyrics is IK "Very funny; JACK' goes Bill Carlson, WCCO-TV (CBS) for the gold and emerges a winner!" Susan Granger, CRN AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS I I 1 by fab female vocalist Roisin Murphy, whose Do You Like My Tight Sweater (Echo adds trip-hop textures to smart soul and rhythm-and-blues. Also worthwhile: Meiso, from Japan's DJ Krush (), and Mark's Keyboard Repair from fourth Beast- lifted by perfectly direct, catchy melodies. Ash, from Downpat-rick, Northern Ireland, named its second album 1977 (Reprise for the year its members were born.

They lead a pseudo-trend Melody Maker dubbed "Yob Rock," played by lager-loving New invasion: If Britain has a "next Seattle," it's Wales, which has spawned a slew of original bands. 1 ie Boy Money Mark (), released by the Brit trip-hop label Mo' Wax. PG-13 PARENTS STRONGLY CAUTION EO IHniWUllHluiinylHilIrO HOaYWOOD PICTURES COMPANY The Welsh Invasion. If Britain has a "next Seattle," it's Wales, which has spawned a slew of original bands. Most irresistibly fun is the formerly techno band Super Furry Animals, whose Fuzzy Logic (Creation U.K.

-k-k-kVi) employs swooshing synthesizers and cello to spice up its guitar-pop. Delectable. Stranger and equally charming, if not quite so accessible, is Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. The fivesome's de UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT MAC DADE MALL Mac Dade Blvd. and South Avenue UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES PENNSAUKEN Routes 73 4 130, Near Tacony Palmyra Bridge, Pennsauken UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 14 Route 555 and Cross Keys Benin Road CINEMARK MOVIES 10 LkmsHeadPlaza'Somerdate White Horse 30 Evesham REGAL CINEMAS BURLINGTON 14 250 Bromley across from Burlington Center UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES MOORESTOWN In me Mcorestown Malt REGAL CINEMAS U0NV1LLE 12 120 Earjlewew Exton UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES BAEDERW00D Baerterwood Shoppino Centw Rt 61 1 to fairway, East Jenluntown UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES FRAZER Route 30 and Mail Road AMCBARNS Rt 61 1, South otDoytestowi AMC GRANITE RUN 8 On Baltimore Pike at the Mall AMC MARPLE 10 Rou 1 at320, SpringfleU AMC ORLEANS I CoQman and Bustieton Avenues AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING Routes 1 4202 AMC DEPTFORD On Clements Bridge fld.

across Irom the Deptlord Mall AMC MARLTON i 800 North Route 73, Marlton AMCMILLSIDE4 Route 130, Delran ATCO MULTIPtJEX CINEMAS White Horse Pike, Rts AMC 309 CINEMA I North End ot 309 Expressway at Route 63, Montjomeryvtlle GCC FRANKLIN MILLS MALL 10 Wxjdhaven and Knights Road GCC NORTHEAST 4 Roosevel Blvd. i Welsh Rd. REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON UUifY 14 County line Rd atDavisvilleRd 9th WITH) ARTISTS THEATRES AT RIVERVIEW PLAZA 1400 S.Delaware Avenue JJM'WJWl'IFW amcawohdai Ridge and Henry Avenues AKWraShoppiftg Center IC ANTHONY VY 2 Lancaster Avenue. Wayne UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY Middletown adjacent to the Mall, Langhome UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES WYNNEWO00 252 E. Lancaster Avenue SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT.

NO PASSES OR DISCOUNT TICKETS ACCEPTED. Visit "JACK" online at Ifflp: wwytrtiovtes com Fun, Excitement, Action Ml Day, All RJigM Ail in One Place! hooligans called Yobs. 1977 contains one track in which the musicians can be heard losing their lunches, but it's also full of disarmingly sweet punk-pop, plus "Kung Fu," an ingenious tribute to Jackie Chan. Britpop to avoid: The warmed-over pop-soul of Ocean Colour Scene's Mosely Shoals (MCA and Sleeper's The It Girl (Arista on which Louise Wener's Blondie imitation falls flat. Worth digging up: Dodgy's Free Peace Sweet which is reminiscent of the Raspberries.

Dance denizens. The aggressive, reggae-oriented dance music known as jungle rules oversized London clubs like Paradise City and the Fridge, and has turned DJs, or "junglists," such as Goldie into pop stars. In the United States, jungle and its offshoot, drum-and-bass, can already be heard on Walking Wounded by the British duo Everything But the Girl. Goldie, who's engaged to marry Icelandic sprite Bjork, is due to release his second U.S. album early next year, and an Island Records compilation from his Metalheadz label is scheduled Stateside in the fall.

Jungle: The Sound of the Underground (SourColumbia it-kVi) samples British and American junglists, including Philly's globally renowned Josh Wink, who is represented by the cut "Autumn Dayz." Edgier, and more expensive, is the two-disc import Jungle: The Extreme Collection (B9 Drum-and-bass is a more melodic jungle subgenre that speeds up the breakbeats, or sampled percussion tracks, and brings trance-inducing bass lines to the fore. For an introduction, try LTJ Bukem's Logical Progression (ffrrIsland Bukem will spin at Perry Farrell's ENIT show, scheduled to hit Camden's Waterfront Entertainment Centre on Aug. 20. Other collections available as imports: In Order to Dance: Drum-n-Bass and Drum and Space (Omni by the Calcutta Cyber Cafe, a collective led by percussionist Talvin Singh. Singh is not to be confused with Tjinder Singh, the British-Indian leader of Corner- but, Introducing Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (Mercury is due out Aug.

20 and is a fetching hodgepodge of Captain Beefheart, the Incredible String Band, and Gorky's own oddly beautiful songs, sometimes sung in Welsh. The most hyped band in Britain has got to be the Manic Street Preachers, which will open for Oasis at the CoreStates Center on Sept. 2. The Manics' Everything Must Go (Epic due in U.S. stores on Aug.

13, is the band's first release since lyricist-guitarist Richey James disappeared, presumed dead, in February 1995. Everything Must Go has a pull-out-the-stops energy that makes the band's overrated early-'90s efforts forgivable. Other Welsh acts worth noting: Trashy punk Yobs the 60 Ft. Dolls, whose Geffen debut is due in January; strummy guitar-pop band Catatonia, whose CD will be out this year on Blanco Negro; and the Velvets-influenced Jack, whose Pioneer Soundtracks (American is already in stores. Most of Britain pop is no more laudable for its innovation than American Top 40.

George Michael, Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi are huge here and there's still a propensity for fey glam rock: The London Suede (as they're legally required to refer to themselves in the U.S.) has a new CD out this fall. But there's much to get excited about. Polly Jean Harvey's collaboration with John Parish, Dance Hall at Louse Point, arrives next month. And, for a sampler, try the soundtrack to Trainspotting (Capitol which contains cuts by many of the aforementioned acts. On SLf i mm i New members, sign up for your Castle Card, play $1 in any of our lucky slots, and we'll mail you a coupon for $10! BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE! I I Hysterical! fcff Craig, SOIY SECOND PREVIEW SHRIMP PRIME RIB BUFFET multiplicity.

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NOW SHOWING! 'j. -mm Only $8.96 With Your Castle Card UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT RIVEflVIEW PLAZA 1400 S. Delaware Avenue MOVIES TO TALK ABOUT Sat Sun. at 11:30, 2:10, 4:50, 7:35 i kitz i iyi: REGAL CINEMAS U0NVILLE12 120 Eagle Elton UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES GRANT PLAZA Giant Plaza Shopping Center UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES KING QUEEN IMtsNntnolSKylEipyon Route 202. King of Prussia UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES AT OXFORD VALLEY MrtoWown adjacent to the Mal.Langhome Redeem coupon along with presenting or obtaining a Castle Card at the Castle Card Services Desk.

Valid through 81 796. Coupon valid for one free buffet with the purchase of one. AMCBARNS I MMSoutholDoylestam on tone 611 $4.00 1ST SHOW AMC GRANITE RUN I THE MASTERWORKS OF OnBataraePteatthe to Run Mai AMCMARPLE 10 Route at 320, SpnngtieM Maiple Crassioads Shopping Ctr. AMC PAINTER'S CROSSING 9 Routes 1 202, VMage at Paotec's Ocssng Stnppg Centar TRUMP'S AMC 309 CINEMA 9 North End ot 309 Eressway at tole63 Munlnomaywle GCC FRANKLIN MILLS AMC DEPTF0FD 8 On dements Bridge Rd. across trvnnDepnordMal ATCO MULTIPLEX CINEMAS White Horse Pie Routes 3D and 73, Atco CINEMARK MOVIES 10 (Jons Heart Plaza Sonerdale WWeHorsePk Rt.

JOSEwsnara REGAL CINEMAS CROSS KEYS 12 Ettack Horse Pit ft. 42) at AmaralM-Timers UNITED ARTISTS THEATRES M00REST0WN InthpMoorestownMaf JdLJdL CASINO RESORT MOW MALL 10 Woodhaven and Knights tad REGAL CINEMAS HUNTINGDON VALLEY 14 County UneRoad at Clare toad Mtp7www.sonVcMn) I -ONE WEEK ONLY-l PATHER PANCHAU I I MOVIES TO TALK ABOUT I CT A OTC Travel Guide Fx 1996 TT Offers limited to one coupon per person, per day. Not valid in combination with any other offer. Alcoholic beverages, tax and gratuity not included. Offers valid for a maximum of two people per Castle Card" per day Must be 21 years of age to receive Castle Card.

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