..:: metropolis japan ..::.. cd review ::..

In the early '90s, Frenchmen Michel Sanchez and Eric Mouquet wrote the book on ethno-tribal electronica, so the burden on them to innovate, at a time when the genre has been explored to its limit, is heavy indeed. Their solution here is twofold: live drums and English lyrics. There are still plenty of tribal voices, trance synth lines and canned beats, but from the hard-rock guitar lines and chunky rhythms of the opening track "India," Music Detected is a departure for the group. And for the most part, it's a welcome one. Guest vocalists including the formidable Beverly Jo Scott, Indonesian sensation Anggun and Japan's own Hajime Chitose provide this album with more guts than mere samples could. At times, such as on the Vangelis-like "Yuki," the album slips into trite sentimentalism, but for the most part Music Detected throws enough curve balls to keep even the most jaded electronica fans happy.

THE PARKINSONS
A Long Way To Nowhere
(Fierce Panda)

Slated to appear at July's Fuji Rock Festival as a showcase act, The Parkinsons are a one-bank punk revival coming straight at you from…Portugal. That's right: hailing from Coimbra, Portugal, land of "Madeira, Catholicism and boredom," the quartet have been busy blowing the roofs off English clubs since relocating to London in 2000. Their debut recording, A Long Way To Nowhere provides an antidote for anyone who finds bands like The Strokes or Jon Spencer overly "sophisticated." From the droning guitars of "Nothing To Lose" to the thrash and wild abandon of "Bad Girl," The Parkinsons do a pretty fair job of recalling the spirit of the Sex Pistols et al circa 1977. If anyone looks likely to shake up Fuji Rock, these boys would have to be the prime suspects.

BOYZ II MEN
Full Circle
(Arista)

Ten years and 60 million albums since their debut, and now happily departed Universal for Arista, Philadelphia's number one export—who just performed at the first MTV Japan Video Music Awards—are unlikely candidates to throw a curve ball at this point deep into their career. And so it is with Full Circle: Nathan, Wanya, Shawn and Michael deliver another flawless collection of contemporary doo wop, delicately seasoned with hip hop and soul. "The Color of Love," produced by Babyface, is a reflective tribute to love, as are most of the songs on the album. "Relax Your Mind" pushes up the tempo, with funky bass, while "Whatcha Need" offers comfort to heartbroken lovers. Verdict: Boyz II Men offer another timeless slice of soul that should have them riding the charts long after the boy bands of the moment have fallen off the horizon.

KRONOS QUARTET
Nuevo
(Nonesuch)

Over its 30-year history, the Kronos Quartet has recorded an array of musical styles and genres—from imitations of Jimi Hendrix to recordings of the music of Bill Evans, and from renderings of early music to contemporary composers like Philip Glass. The compositions commissioned by the group range in the hundreds. The quartet's latest release, Nuevo, is an exploration of both traditional and popular music from Mexico. Featuring arrangements of traditional songs by the Mexican composers Osvaldo Golijov and Stephen Prutsman, as well as popular music, Nuevo represents an amazing variety of musical textures and sounds. Lead violinist and artistic producer David Harrington says walking through Mexico City inspired the record: At the turn of every corner one discovers something new and unexpected. And like walking through a city, many layers of musical style, time, and popular culture flow together in this amazing and joyful celebration of Mexican music and life. RT

You know Moby, he's epic. And this, well, this is just another Play in the story. Sticking with the familiar down-tempo take on the old deep house theme, 18 is abundant in all those adorable female vocals. But this once enjoyable soul-searching venture seems to have become nothing but a mundane and depressing resignation to wispy, airy lyrics and a general engulfment in the bores of love turmoil. But keep listening because something somewhat relieving and joyous happens when you reach track 10. This bass-heavy, scratch-and-rap girlie tune frustratingly manifests the potential in every Moby song to get the kids on the floor. But as outstanding as this track may be, you still won't buy the record, because while it's all very chilling and at times even nice, emotionally it's ineffective and could just pass you by. Sally Mizon