DEMO: THE BLACK HAND Superhand / If You Want It (Abbey Road)
Arriving in a lavish package with card inserts and posh mounted CD, this immediately screams Big Budget Project. Producer Eddie Kramer has worked with a few medium sized bands – Kiss, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin – heard of them? At once this is obviously highly accomplished and smoothly polished rock, although we can’t help thinking there’s a slight triumph of style over content, The playing, sound and packaging are superlative but it’s a little bit let down by the actual songs, which fade quite rapidly from memory exactly the way Sweet Child O’Mine didn’t. (NC)

ALBUM: REBEL CONTROL: Jammin’ at Rebel HQ (myspace.com/rebelcontrol)
Reggae music probably has UB40 and the over-use of Bob Marley in Athena to thank for its current irrelevance in the big picture of the UK music scene. While it’s true that the rockers era of 30-odd years ago was its last credible assault on mainstream success, bands like Rebel Control are flying the red, yellow and green flag for reggae in 2009. Sweet backyard rhythms, requisite rumbling bass and some bold brass make up a patois package that flies defiantly in the face of most Brighton music these days. (NC)

EP: THE SLY-TONES: The Sly-Tones (myspace.com/slytones)
The SOURCE in-tray is traditionally light on psychedelic samba garage blues, which is always a shame. The Sly-Tones are indeed faithful as-promised purveyors of this distinctive stylistic hybrid. The quoted references to ‘Jim Morrison on acid’ (which is kind of like saying ‘Sooty with a hand up his arse’) are pretty much bang on the money, with some sexy 60s guitar and noodly keyboards bringing up the rear. They’re meant to be legendary live; we’ll be checking them out. (NC)

EP: THE VALENTINES: We Are The Band (myspace.com/thevalentinesband)
Other magazines might baulk at reviewing a band called The Valentines in March, when we’re all still smarting from the bitter rejection and abject misery it brings. But there’s always next year, for when Valentines Day still holds the vague hope of happiness and loveliness. Which is precisely the feeling this EP gives us – self-deprecating Strokes-y pop with a hint (only a hint, mind) of catchy Kooks-y bits and some wry Alex Turner-isms to boot. They look pretty sharp as well. (NC)