Durutti Column "Say What You Mean" & A Certain Ratio "Brazilia" Reviews

DURUTTI COLUMN: Say What You Mean Mean What You Say (EP) (Factory)
A CERTAIN RATIO: Brazilia (Factory Benelux)

Just the FACs, ma’am ... Vini Reilly's found himself a fine spar in percussionist Bruce Mitchell but his elegant, limpid mood music almost invariably either soothes me into a nice snooze or else makes me wonder if it’s time to do the washing up or take the rubbish out. Unfortunately this latest six-track marathon is no exception.

A Certain Ratio weigh in with a light, fast, smooth groove dedicated to the joys of ‘sunshine music’ and blessed with some sparkling piano, even though the percussion break in the middle is somewhat heavy-handed. This probably tell you at least as much about my prejudices and assumptions as it does about ACR, but in its way this is one of the most pleasant surprises of the week.