Mansun - Slipping Away (EMI) By Steve Rudd

Brace yourselves, for this is the last-ever single release from those loveable Chester-based boys. Sadly, they decided to call it a day whilst recording their fourth, as-yet-unreleased album. On the upside though, and to help die-hard fans get over the initial loss, Mansun are releasing evidence of such unreleased studio sessions as part of a 3-CD retrospective of their career, over 37 tracks that show off just how great a band Mansun were.

Slipping Away is buoyed up by the usual more-than-catchy guitar hookage that we've come to expect over the years from band frontman Paul Draper and cohorts. As a major plus, Mansun have always delivered shards of mature and poetic lyrics since they burst onto the scene back in 1995, and Slipping Away boasts the following - I drink myself into a state, I drink to make you go away... Move on. The single's b-side is Getting Your Way, which is a darker Glam-roasted number, also appears on the aforementioned Kleptomania celebration of their musical achievements, in a realm that has heard them making something supremely special out of a sound not too dissimilar to the indie-pop tracts charmingly caressed by The Bluetones and The Supernaturals. This is a fitting climax to the life and times of Mansun indeed. 4/5 www.mansun.net

Album Reviews - The Composers - Evacuate London (8-track demo) By Steve Rudd
	Compose yourself, for the music on offer here from this East London-rooted band is most excellent. Opening track Evacuate London is a jingle-jangling shot of down-to-earth, lovelorn pop music of the highest caliber, with Dan Edelstyn leading the quintet Read more...

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Single Reviews - Sum 41 - We're All To Blame (Mercury) By Steve Rudd
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Single Reviews - The Others - Stan Bowles (Poptones) By Steve Rudd
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Single Reviews - Daniel Rachel - Dear Friend (Dust Records) By Steve Rudd Release Date: September 27th 2004.
	Daniel Rachel, as a style-conscious solo singer-songwriter, is truly to be treasured. I couldn't recommend his work more, so seek it here, seek it there. Then slip it on, stand back.. and listen. No, I mean really listen. Dear Friend is an astonishing song, crisp with twin acoustic guitar-based purity that Read more...

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Album Reviews - Ernest: (Pimps, B**ches and) Superheroes By Elsie Creek
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