(To be transcribed)

808 STATE
Lopez
ZTT

TAKEN from the criminally underrated "Don Solaris" long-player, "Lopez" bears all the classic hallmarks of 808 State's wired experimental ingenuity. Not least because of its inspired fling with Manic Street Preacher, James Dean Bradfield. Those ubiquitous Propellerheads, meanwhile, merge psychedelic guitar and Bradfield's feisty vocals into a raw breakbeat sushi. Home listening for club casualties. (FIN) 7

Dave: "808 State stay out of the limelight and yet they are capable of doing very very interesting, well-produced, leftfield things which aren't necessarily for clubs. They did a very good mix of Audioweb. Plus they gave me some beer when I was at a really shifty party on New Year's Eve in Switzerland three years ago. This doesn't do anything for me, though:' 4

808 STATE WITH JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD

Lopez (ZTT)

JAMES SOUNDS like Roddy Frame on this neat demolition derby. 808 State break away from the Noel Gallagher/ Chemical Brothers formula by actually building around the melodic possibilities of the singer, rather than smashing it up. James is extraordinarily powerful now; he can inject so much emotion into the least portentous line.

So when he's allied, as he is here, to Nicky Wire's lyrics and a boss electronic act, the effect is deadly.

808 STATE
Lopez (ZTT)

VER STATE producing, the Manics' James Dean Bradfield singing and The Propellerheads remixing - what more could we want? Short of God as vibesmeister, not much.

Andy Crysell

808 STATE featuring JAMES DEAN BRADFIELD
Lopez (ZTT)

Xmas is but a wishbone away and already the records with the words "outrageous" attached to them are banging at the door of '97's Best Of charts.

Co-written with the Manic Street Preachers' James Dean Bradfield and Nicky Wire, this was one of the highlights from last year's superb "Don Solaris" album, with the voice of the Manics' vocalist sounding sweetly comfortable against the State's plate of sparse snare rhythms and atmospheric touches from his own Les Paul. Wall Of Sound's Propellerheads meanwhile spice up the proceedings by laying Bradfield's expressive vocal over some driving guitar bongo funk. The original is an absolute gem, the best track not on "Everything Must Go".

Pop music for tomorrow, today.

[Reviewer: Sherman]