DANIEL RACHEL - 'DRIVIN' ROUND THE BEND' (DUST RECORDS)

Whoah - kick out the jams and sound the sirens! SHEER QUALITY WARNING! SHEER QUALITY WARNING!

Who have we got there then? Oh, it's none other than former Rachel's Basement star Daniel Rachel with his debut double A-side 7" single. And thus a bastard of a tantalizing tongue twister to boot!

With 'Drivin' Round The Bend' on top and 'Burned By the Wire' complaining-not on the flipside, these 2 startling songs promise to totally compel everyone and anyone who hears them, as 'Drivin…' catchily races forth with an upbeat vibe and its consciously cool, tongue in cheek and down to earth charm. It's jazzy, it's poppy, it's genius.

But then 'Burned…' is even better. Incorporating Daniel's warm, comforting voice (that soulfully sounds a tad like The Dawn Parade's Greg McDonald's), subtle drums & guitar and a lovingly downbeat piano melody, Daniel's poetic wistfulness comes into its own as he gasps 'I don't believe in anybody's dreams… There are too many casualties passing by my window.' So while the first track is quirky, the second is a rather more serious and affecting affair of the heart.

Produced by Grant Showbiz (who's no stranger to people who entertain), this single is actually the follow-up to Daniel's 'A Simple Twist of Folk' album that he self-released. This will inevitably raise his profile a damn sight more, but when you learn that he's already supported the super-talented likes of Thea Gilmore, Alt.-Punka Wreckless Eric, Ocean Colour Scene's Simon Fowler and one of my all-time heroes in Billy Bragg, it's not as though Daniel has so far been badly done to.

Oh, rejoice… 5/5

Release Date: 3rd November 2003 www.danielrachel.com

STEVE RUDD
KIDJUXTA