Another summer album. Perfect for playing loud while you kick back in a field at a festival somewhere, nursing your hangover gently towards a state where sunlight is marginally less painful to your eyes than sulphuric acid, with only beer and crisps to do it with. Like all good hangover cures, it's a potent mixture of various substances, one of which is always eggs. Know what I mean?

Okay, ever hear one of those Sue Records compilations that Ace Records have been re-releasing lately? Well now you don't need to, because all their soulful, feelgood rock and roll, dancefloor bounce has been quietly and efficiently distilled into such potent shots as "Chicken Payback" and "One Glass Of Water". These chirpy retro moments rub shoulders with Cossack reggae ("The Russian"), pure soul ("I Love You" and Japanese bonus track "Nothin'") and Morgan Bluetown style toytown psychedelia ("Go Karts"). All of which, of course, will have cynical snobs screaming Coral rip-off!" quicker than a Republican shouts "Liberal media bias!" especially on "Hourglass", but who cares what they think, eh? It's all about the tunes, man. And the beards. And "Free The Bees" has tunes and beards galore. Did I mention "Wash In The Rain" yet? Great tune, that. How about "These Are The Ghosts"? Absolutely top. That's what this album's like. Absolutely top. -Ian Martin, July.10.04

Free The Bees