Latest releases reviewed

CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH
Is This Love?
 Wichita
***

As far as us hacks are concerned, it's true love for this Brooklyn quintet with the whiny-voiced singer and the jumpy sound. The tune is backed with the equally jerky and infectious Heavy Metal. We say yeah, yeah.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN
Funny Little Frog
Rough Trade
****

Not an ode to the annoying amphibian of ringtone fame, this is a groovy, horny, perverse and poptastic love story about a man and his lifeless companion. I knew those bedsit types were weirdos.

BEDOUIN SOUNDCLASH
New Year's Day
B-Unique
**

It's not all arcade fires and wolf parades in Canada, y'know. There are also bands who think doing a reggae version of an old U2 song is cool. This one oughta present Sinead O'Connor with a right old dilemma.

ARCTIC MONKEYS
When the Sun Goes Down
Domino
***

They looked pretty good on the dancefloor, but now the sun's gone down on the teen disco, and Alex Turner is pausing for a Pete Doherty moment. When it kicks in, though, there's no room for babyshambling.

PROTOCOL
Where's the Pleasure?
Polydor
**

Blondie's Atomic as sung by Billy Idol? Hmm, sounds like we've got a Brit Bravery on our hands. "We wanna make pop music cool again," say these pretty-boy Durannie clones. OK, then, we're waiting.

HI_TACK
Say Say Say (Waiting 4 You)
Gusto
*

These Dutch dance producers have "cleverly" exhumed the horrible old Wacko/Macca tune from the 1980s graveyard and given it the usual trance tweak. Highly tacky indeed.

SUNBLOCK
I'll Be Ready
Stockholm Records
*

As the frost bites and winter settles in, here's a reminder of those summer nights when Baywatch was on the telly. The theme, by one Jim Jamison, has been heard weekly in 142 countries, so these Swedish guys are probably on a winner here. Nurse, the sunscreens!