Fool’s Garden — For Sale (BMG Crescendo)«««

Stiff-backed and conservatively attired, this fivesome plucks at Oasis-like guitar and delivers waspish reverie. Each track in this album reflects three years of development in different phases. The album opener Who Are You is a schizophrenic conversation with one’s inner self, with grasping theme, hard to break away from. The Name uses electronic loops, with gloomy lyrics, dark bass grudge and nervous guitar chords. Noone’s Song is a sureshot pop-rock example. Save Me and Still speak of the quality Fool’s Garden made an impact with. Alright offers some delicately emphatic and striking guitar hooks. Morning Girl and It Can Happen are easy listening tracks with smooth settings. The highlight of For Sale remains the acoustic-oriented Happy with a symphony feel to it and Suzy for its flattering vocals, blunt lyrics and well-sculpted sounds.

Don Philip - Don Philip (HMV)««

Featuring a lighter touch than might be expected from the man who has done a duet with noted teen superstar and Jive labelmate Britney Spears on her latest album, this album matches with the product of the former Boyzone member, Ronan Keating. Creating a whole new world out of a unique synthesis of pop, teeny hooks and girl-crazy lyrics, Don Philip shows off his calmer side in this self-titled debut album.

It begins in perfect style when You Make Me Love You...More rolls in on a rhythmic groove, wind tunnel guitars and Don’s deliciously plained vocal brag. How Did I Ever and God Gave Me You show Don handling lyrics with an emotional scan and confirms his self-contained pop sparkle. Of the other tracks, I Don’t Wanna Learn To Love Without You, The Way Of The World Of You And Me and If You Could See Me Now are destined to be chart climbers. Instrumentally tweaked tragi-ballad Keep My Heart In Mind could be a take-off from September Love. It’s far-reaching stuff, the lyrics are bound to win your hearts. This is a fine album to check out the current state of pop art.

Julio Iglesias - Noch Dde Cuatro Lunas (Sony Music)«««

Julio Iglesias has enjoyed an extraordinary recording career, with an unmatched list of achievements. With over 250 million albums sold worldwide, Julio is back with a much anticipated 77th album. Titled Noche de Cuatro Lunas, the album is one of the most significant discs in his music career. To make this piece even more spectacular, Julio has teamed up with some of the prominent music personalities, which include Eestefano, singer/songwriter Rubber Blades, composer Robi Rosa of Ricky Martin’s Maria, La Copa De La Vida and Livin’ La Vida Loca fame and Alejandro Sanz who released the smash hit Carazon Partio in 1997. The album offers some appetising grooves from Spain, Hispanic Carribean and the USA. Apart from collaborating with young producers, Julio has composed songs for the first time in 20 years. The entire song list gives a pleasing contemporary feel. Julio’s interest in creating a broader musical base has paid off here, with most of the tracks leaning towards Spain and Carribean, hitting a good-natured carnival spirit. Elsewhere, Julio offers romance (No Es Amor Ni Es Amar, Dos Carazones, Dos Historians and Noche De Cuatro Lunas) and treats the format to a series of exuberant, acoustic guitar-led excursions. The notable tracks include Gozar La Vida, Te Voy A Contar Mi Vida, Seremos Libres and Mal Acostumbrado. Performed with fire and panache, Julio offers welcome proof of his music’s continuing good health.

One of the principal architects of the dance sound, composer and producer Giorgio Moroder recorded his debut single Looky, Looky in 1969; his first LP Son Of My Father was released in early 1972. He was introduced to fellow aspiring musicians Pete Bellotte and Donna Summer, with whom he formed a production partnership and instantly shot to fame. With this partnership, Giorgio released hit albums about once every six months. In 1978, Morodex made his foray into film music, winning an Academy Award for his score to Alan Parker’s Mignight Express. Award after Award, he won his second Oscar in 1983 for his hit Flashdance (What A Feeling) performed by Irene Cara. Later his contribution to the soundtrack of 1986 mega-buster Top Gun proved that Moroder was a music genius.

In the years to follow, Moroder gave out more hits, more film soundtracks and more remixes. This compilation is just a fraction of that. Nevertheless it covers some of the biggest hits. The album kick-starts with Jam and Spoon’s The Chase, that builds-up the tempo. It is followed by Talla 2XLC’s E=MC2. Other club fillers include Flashdance (What A Feeling) featuring Sarah Abdallah, Eric D. Clark’s From Here To Eternity, Take My Breath Away featuring Diana DeWitt, Never Ending Story featuring Paul Engemann, DJ Shahrokh’s Hot Stuff, Roger Sanchez’s Evolution and Last Night featuring Gloria Gaynor. Re-live the disco era — this one’s from the Guru.

Album of the month

All these years you are considered Pop icons and one fine morning you call it all Trash?

Pop Trash— their twelfth album looks beyond the glossy-glam world. As the band members confess, this is the most honest work they have done so far. The starter Someone Else Not Me is accompanied by acoustic guitar chords, talking about freedom of letting someone fade out of your life. The track gives a feel of a recycled version of Ordinary World, their 1993 super hit. Lava Lamp, Pop Trash Movie and Lady Xanax are guitar-fuelled sonic busters, while Hallucinating Elvis’s spiky glam-rocking could easily be mistaken for a product from 20-something rockers. Last Day On Earth recalls the Tin Machine’s stilted hooks. Mars Meets Venus and Playing With Uranium could very well fit into an alternative dance compilation.

Utilising their savvy sense of classic songs like Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, Reflex, Wild Boys etc., Duran Duran successfully step onto another music level. Despite many splits, the band has managed to shine bright even with frequently changing trends and this is why, while other contemporaries faded away, Duran Duran is counted amongst the strongest pop bands even today. Here’s to our good ‘ol pop folks!

— Saurabh & Gaurav