Hammill, Peter - 1993 - Offensichtlich Goldfisch

An excellent idea (if, perhaps, a somewhat self-indulgent one): 12 of Peter Hammill's finest recent songs, rendered into the German language that his more stentorian vocals seemed to be striving for, even in English. Titled for Out of Water's "Evidently Goldfish," the album is dominated by material from the early '90s: cuts from Fireships and The Noise account for more than half the album, while the remainder is culled from 1988's In a Foreign Town and 1986's And Close As This. But Offensichtlich Goldfisch is no simple retread of already familiar material. Although little more than the vocals were re-recorded from the original master tapes, the musical textures change immensely in their new setting, regardless of whether or not one understands German. Familiar imagery is skewed, expected emphasis is delayed or dismissed altogether, and Offensichtlich Goldfisch unexpectedly emerges as one of the most surprising albums that Hammill has put his name to in a long time.

1 Offensichtlich Goldfisch 5:02
2 Dich Zu Finden 4:46
3 Die Kälte Killt Den Kuss 4:12
4 Favorit 5:06
5 Kaufhaus Europa 5:11
6 Der Lärm 6:13
7 Oase 5:44
8 Die Prominenz Küsst Sich 4:34
9 Die Tinte Verlischt 4:23
10 Auto [Wieder im Wagen] 4:02
11 Gaia 5:38
12 Schlaft Nun 4:39

¡Aquí!

Hammill, Peter - 1993 - The Noise

Loud, powerful and energetic music, balanced by poetical and clever lyrics. "The Entertainer" is an immediate success while "The Noise" is a prime example of Hammill's style of rhythmic and arrhythmic rock. A stab-in-the-back for the materialistic '90s society is cleverly disguised in the almost-pop "Great European Department Store," and the Finale -- the slowly building, haunting "Primo on the Parapet" -- reminds us to remember the past. Another unforgettable collection from Mr. Hammill.

1 A Kick to Kill the Kiss Hammill 4:11
2 Like a Shot, the Entertainer 5:12
3 The Noise Hammill 6:12
4 Celebrity Kissing 4:33
5 Where the Mouth Is 5:33
6 The Great European Department Store 4:58
7 Planet Coventry Hammill 4:01
8 Primo on the Parapet Hammill 8:35

¡Aquí!

Wildhearts - 1993 - Earth Vs Demos

¡Aquí!

Mercyful Fate - 1993 - In The Shadows

After an almost decade-long hiatus, Mercyful Fate's reunion did not disappoint; it was as if they picked up right where they had left off. There are more of King Diamond's gothic tales of horror and the supernatural, and the music sounds better than ever. It doesn't have the historical significance of their early-'80s material, but that doesn't really matter; this is high-quality material from a tight veteran band. The CD features a re-recorded version of the underground classic "Return of the Vampire" with Lars Ulrich on drums.

		1		Egypt	King Diamond	4:52
		2		The Bell Witch	King Diamond, Shermann	4:34
		3		The Old Oak	King Diamond, Shermann	8:54
		4		Shadows	King Diamond	4:42
		5		A Gruesome Time	Denner, King Diamond	4:31
		6		Thirteen Invitations	King Diamond	5:17
		7		Room of Golden Air [instrumental]	Denner	3:06
		8		Legend of the Headless Rider	King Diamond, Shermann	7:43
		9		Is That You, Melissa	King Diamond	4:41
		10		Return of the Vampire...1993 [*]	King Diamond, Shermann	5:08

¡Aquí!

Siniestro Total - 1993 - Made In Japan

		1		Tan Hermoso		3:55
		2		Como Me Ves Te Veras		3:58
		3		Yo Dije Yeah!		3:31
		4		Dile Adios al Rock and Roll		4:20
		5		A Casa		3:56
		6		Escarallado Vivo		2:15
		7		Trageme Tierra		4:05
		8		Autopista de Basora		3:39
		9		La Corbata Colombiana		3:48
		10		Septimo Arte		2:45
		11		El Hombre Medicina		3:07
		12		Cuenca Minera		3:17
		13		Sin Novedad en el Potaje		4:06
		14		La Sierra Es La Familia		2:20
		15		La Historia del Blues Vol.2		2:47
		16		Tener un Talisman		4:05

¡Aquí!

Björk - 1993 - Debut

Freed from the Sugarcubes' confines, Björk takes her voice and creativity to new heights on Debut, her first work after the group's breakup. With producer Nellee Hooper's help, she moves in an elegantly playful, dance-inspired direction, crafting highly individual, emotional electronic pop songs like the shivery, idealistic "One Day" and the bittersweet "Violently Happy." Despite the album's swift stylistic shifts, each of Debut's tracks are distinctively Björk. "Human Behaviour"'s dramatic percussion provides a perfect showcase for her wide-ranging voice; "Aeroplane" casts her as a yearning lover against a lush, exotica-inspired backdrop; and the spare, poignant "Anchor Song" uses just her voice and a brass section to capture the loneliness of the sea. Though Debut is just as arty as anything she recorded with the Sugarcubes, the album's club-oriented tracks provide an exciting contrast to the rest of the album's delicate atmosphere. Björk's playful energy ignites the dance-pop-like "Big Time Sensuality" and turns the genre on its head with "There's More to Life Than This." Recorded live at the Milk Bar Toilets, it captures the dancefloor's sweaty, claustrophobic groove, but her impish voice gives it an almost alien feel. But the album's romantic moments may be its most striking; "Venus as a Boy" fairly swoons with twinkly vibes and lush strings, and Björk's vocals and lyrics — "His wicked sense of humor/Suggests exciting sex" — are sweet and just the slightest bit naughty. With harpist Corky Hale, she completely reinvents "Like Someone in Love," making it one of her own ballads. Possibly her prettiest work, Björk's horizons expanded on her other releases, but the album still sounds fresh, which is even more impressive considering electronic music's whiplash-speed innovations. Debut not only announced Björk's remarkable talent; it suggested she had even more to offer.

		1		Human Behaviour	Bjork, Hooper	4:12
		2		Crying	Hooper	4:49
		3		Venus as a Boy	Bjork	4:41
		4		There's More to Life Than This	Bjork, Hooper	3:21
		5		Like Someone in Love	Burke, VanHeusen	4:33
		6		Big Time Sensuality	Bjork, Hooper	3:56
		7		One Day	Bjork	5:24
		8		Aeroplane	Bjork	3:54
		9		Come to Me	Bjork	4:55
		10		Violently Happy	Bjork, Hooper	4:58
		11		The Anchor Song	Bjork	3:32

¡Aquí!

Harvey, PJ - 1993 - 4-Track Demos

Since Steve Albini gave Rid of Me such an uncompromisingly noisy finish, it may have made sense for Polly Harvey to release her original demos, augmented by several unreleased songs, six months later as an album. After all, the initial British pressings of Dry came with a bonus disc of her demos. Still, the official, independent release of 4-Track Demos suggests that Harvey wanted to give these songs another chance for listeners who found Rid of Me too abrasive. Even for those who enjoyed Rid of Me, 4-Track Demos is a revelatory experience, since it arguably captures the raw emotion of the songs better the official record. A handful of songs from the record aren't repeated in demo form -- namely "Missed," "Man-Size," "Highway 61 Revisited," "Dry," and "Me-Jane" -- but they're replaced by the previously unreleased "Reeling," "Driving," "Hardly Wait," "Easy," "M-Bike," and "Goodnight," most of which are easily the equal of the songs that were actually released, and that's what makes 4-Track Demos necessary for every Harvey fan, not just collectors.

		1		Rid of Me	Harvey	3:42
		2		Legs	Harvey	3:47
		3		Reeling	Harvey	2:59
		4		Snake	Harvey	1:56
		5		Hook	Harvey	4:31
		6		50ft Queenie	Harvey	2:48
		7		Driving	Harvey	2:38
		8		Ecstasy	Harvey	2:56
		9		Hardly Wait	Harvey	2:48
		10		Rub 'Til It Bleeds	Harvey	5:10
		11		Easy	Harvey	3:16
		12		M-Bike	Harvey	2:43
		13		Yuri-G	Harvey	3:53
		14		Goodnight	Harvey	4:17

¡Aquí!