E LUXO SO WHAT?
Labradford release their 5th full-length CD this week. The trio from Richmond, VA is now being regarded by some as one of the most important bands in the world. Don't take our word for it, however, just look at the lineup for this year's Festival of Drifting.

OUT OF SIGHT
David Holmes' score for the Elmore Leonard movie, "Out Of Sight", succeeds where other soundtrack albums fail. Unlike "Get Short" (another Leonard film), where every song virtually sounds like the previous one (what do you expect when you back Medeski, Martin, And Wood up to The Lounge Lizards?!?), Holmes mixes various styles of music to form a soundtrack that works well in both film and for backing day to day duties. Along with selections from the 60's and 70's (some good soul from The Isley Brothers, Latin jazz percussionist Willie Bobo, a dash of Deano), Holmes creates some wonderful incidental music as diverse, and twice as funky, as the standards. Using a live band, featuring former one-half of UNKLE Tim Goldsworthy, the instrumental passages range from funk tension ("Jailbreak", "Rip Rip"), smoldering fusion ("Tub Scene", "The Drive To Ripley's"), to slow-and-steamy Portishead grinds ("The Trunk Scene", "No More Time Outs"). The only failing this soundtrack has is that it incorporates too much movie dialogue, which I imagine is something MCA slapped on after the score was finished. If you can block out the gunshots and shouting that invariably ruin a handful of tracks, then this gem is definitely worth owning. - Jason Olariu

1-900-GET-KHAN
Don't let the packaging and title steer you away from this one. Khan (better known as Can Oral) has quite a resume. He's been part of the Global Electronic Network and other projects like 4E and Cube 40, had m aterial out on Mille Plateaux and Force Inc. among others, and co-operates Temple Records store/label out of New York. This German-born artist brings us his first release on Matador - a seedy electronic record self described as "soundtrack music to strip bars and sex joints." It features Twin Peaks singer Julee Cruise on two tracks of eerie, low-cool sleazy listening. The melodies are original and the beats keep you nodding. Recommendable for the space age bachelor pad. - Jon Whitney

SATURDAY
Marumari - Ballad Of The Round Ball CD (Vinyl Communications, US)

In light of an absence of an editor this week, this listing might be slightly inaccurate. For a more comprehensive release schedule stretching far into the future, please check out the NEW RELEASES brought to you by Greg and Feedback Monitor.

This wasn't a random letter to us, this was a response to my email suggestion that Gap add "Gap Goth", "Gap Industrial" and "Gap Techno Hardcore" to air along with "Gap Country," "Gap Soul" and "Gap A-go-go".

WHY THE 80s REALLY SUCKED
For anybody who remembers being in the 80s, not someone who remenisces about one hit wonders and John Hughes films, take a look at this: The top 100 music videos for 1985 according to MTV. Note the numbers high on the chart (20 through 1) and remember how in the 80s we couldn't get away from these awful awful songs. I can't believe Phil Collins is on there 5 times!! YUCK!