EXPRESS

Love And Rockets: Daniel Ash (vocals, guitar, saxophone); David J. (vocals, bass); Kevin Haskins (drums). Additional personnel: Allan Baker (conductor); Alan Brookes, James Lowry, Robert Willey (vocals); John A. Rivers (keyboards). Digitally remastered by John A. Rivers (2001, Woodbine Studios). Every time Love And Rockets released a new record during the 1980's they were reminded they lived under not only under the shadow of their previous band, Bauhaus, but also with the presence of that band's ex-frontman Peter Murphy, with whose solo career they found themselves in direct competition. Fortunately, by EXPRESS, the band had finally come into their own. Sounding something like a Goth version of T. Rex (guitarist Daniel Ash somewhat resembled Marc Bolan), EXPRESS is a hook-fest from beginning to end. The album is probably best known for its kinetic cover of "Ball of Confusion," which charted in England and America, but contains any number of gems. However the real stunner here is "Kundalini Express," which builds and builds until the listener has reached, if not Nirvana, at least the Pixies. From the glam rock of "All in My Mind," to the, uh, glam rock of "It Could Be Sunshine," Love and Rockets took and retooled the power riffs of the '70s, largely thanks to programming/drumming wiz Kevin Haskins. A consistently powerful record by one of the best bands of the '80s.