You might see “The Sign” by Ace of Base, “Tease Me” by Chaka Demus and Pliers or even Gloria Gaynor’s glorious “I Will Survive”, on this jacket and wonder if it’s worth the small digits on the sleeve! So you’ve heard them before, and you know they’re not top-notch (well, maybe except for Gaynor’s goldie). Apache Indian’s sweepstake “Boom Shack-A-Laka” might give this album nostalgic credit, but do you really want Lou Bega’s “Gentleman”, or Aqua’s “Cartoon Heroes”? And they’ve got to be kidding if they throw in the completely insipid “You’re My Mate” by Right Said Fred - does the bracketed radio edit hope to redeem the damned?
Sauce for the Asian soul come in the guise of Hisham Abbas’ “Nari Nari” and Takfarinas’ “Zaama Zaama”. OK, so all that kissing looks better on the telly, but the smacks don’t get any real airplay on the radio.
Not really worth the pennies, unless you’re desperate!
This article was first published on 01 Aug 2002.