Reviews

Not-quite-brilliant follow-up to Two Against Nature from US collegiate pop's Lennon & McCartney

When we speak of Anton Karas' score to Carol Reed's 1949 classic of dodgy penicillin and cuckoo clocks, we speak of the zither. Most of us couldn't describe a zither if the lives of the Swiss nation depended on it, but the Harry Lime theme is nonchalance personified. Karas—the chap with the zither—was discovered by Reed playing in a Viennese tavern and had no experience, but proved to be an inspired choice.

Former Stiltskin/Genesis singer goes solo

Agit-rap veteran mellows out too much on his fourth LP

Three-disc box of electro pioneers' early dabbles

Gripping spoken-word companion piece to those classic Dylan albums of the '60s

Late-'70s folkloric Tull gets a makeover then takes a step too far

From Rickshaw With Love

A 10-disc box set focusing on the modern master of dumb-but-fun action flicks

The Fall are here brilliantly captured in their early-'80s heyday. First released on video in 1983, this is an amateurish but energetic send-up of pop promos, with Mark E Smith on hilarious form, whether skulking around an empty football ground, miming into a beer can on the video for "Kicker Conspiracy", or dancing like a basket case for "Eat Y'Self Fitter".