Barry Adamson "Can't Get Loose" Mute Records Ltd CDMute 188 1998 (14:34)

Can't Get Loose (5:29)
Trouble Asunder (Oedipus Returns) (1:56)
Hear the Angels (4:53)
Namaste MPC (End Title) (2:15)

Music by Barry Adamson, Seamus Beaghan, Malcom Ross, Henry Olsen, Tim Weller, Claudia Sarne and Atticus Ross.

Overall impression: excellent! This is the first single for the new album, "As Above, So Below". "Can't Get Loose" (the album track, the other 3 are non album b-sides) is a dark, sultry pop song full of contrast. Musically, the instrumentation consists of guitar, bass, drums and programming ... so it's a fairly straightforward arrangement. Barry sings the verses in a paranoid and hushed tone, then the vocal and music switch to an almost happy tone as he sings "I can't get loose to using you, but that's what I'm uh gonna do ... having fun in heaven while you're crucified" ... heh, the typical tongue in cheek ironic humour of Mr. Adamson is here once again. "Trouble Asunder" is subtitled "Oedipus Returns", but it sounds more like a return to the sound of "Split" from "Soul Murder" ... a cool jazzy rap by Barry that seems much longer than it's 2 minute track time. "Hear the Angels" is a more aggressive and uptempo number (written by Da Juice and Mark La Ros ... a cover I presume?) with Barry singing "come on, come on and do me baby!" over a dirty bed of samples, organs and sweet drum programming. "Namaste" is a short keyboard/drum/bass instrumental programmed by Barry. Another great single from Barry, nice to have all new tracks on this one. Can't wait for the album ...

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