Amateur band, Hot Chip, are amateur no more!

On the new album Made in the Dark their distinctive electronic indie sound has grown up from the disappointing beats of their last album and become funky and fun.

Although they're not the best lyricists, their combination of electronic sounds and unlikely vocalist give Hot Chip their rhythmic beats.

Their toe tapping songs are complex, chaotic and quirky. Older listeners may find the tracks a trifle repetitive, but this doesn't make them difficult to listen to.

Their songs range from the surreal Out At The Pictures' and One Pure Thought' to slow and soulful Made In The Dark' and In The Privacy Of Our Love' Can't dance, won't dance? You will to Hot Chip!

Thom Whitehead.

Joe Brown - The Very Best Of.

Better know for his cheeky Cockney persona than his songs, Universal look to address this by releasing this 25 track best of compilation.

Not only is he a credible singer, he's something of a guitar hero, having worked with the likes of Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Billy Fury. Guest musicians on this compilation include Herbie Flowers and Marty Wilde.

Daughter Sam also lends her vocals to a handful of songs including a version of She Moves Through The Fair.

A Picture Of You and That's What Love Will Do are possibly Joe's better known songs, both are included alongside other tunes not instantly associated with Joe but well known in their own right -- Hava Nagila, All Things Bright And Beautiful, Lazy Bones and the fabulous I'll See You In My Dreams.

Anyone with the slightest interest in the history of British Popular Music should add this album, from a true legend, to his or her collection.

Graham Scaife.

Blood Red Shoes -- Box Of Secrets.

Punk Duo, Blood Red Shoes, are finally releasing their debut album, but has it been worth the wait?

What makes Blood Red Shoes different from most other punk bands is that their music has been created by a boy/girl duo, as drums, guitar and vocals.

The Brighton band isn't one of the best in punk/garage music but at least they have energy.

Their liveliness on stage makes for exciting performance, although you wouldn't recognise this from listening to the CD. The songs tend to become repetitive and indistinct which can become quite tedious after a while.

Though not bad to listen to when doing something else, Blood Red Shoes definitely have an average debut album.

Thom Whitehead