Michael Becker
News Editor

‘tee XTC — Appice
Venus Vol. 1, TVT Records
1999, IVT 3250-2

Ob happy day. The most inter-
eMing and prolitic pair of
English pop sce titers to
come dong since the Leanon-
McCartney jugyemaut are
back atier a leouthy period of
silence,

Colin Moulding and Andy
Partridge are nor foisting upon
usa shameless retro-New Wave
cash in cither, Rather Apple
Venus proves itself’ an elegant
H-track string of gems.

XTCHite (guitarisr Dave
Gregory split ina huff during,
the recording, allegediy)
returns with an all-new studio
disc tor the first time since
1992's Nonscch on the Virgin

label.

In the interim, the band
was embroiled in a five-year
lawsuit with British-based
Virgin. Partridge says XTC
went on strike to get out of its
agreement with Virgin.

Also during that period he
was divorced. -

That painful detour is
chronicled in the delightfuliy
acerbic Your Dictionary.

Yer much of the rest of the
album's lyrical imagery trades
in flowers, fruit and blissfully
pastoral evocations.

The frantic, sharp angled
nacure of the band’s carly out-
put — circa 1977 White Music
— and the elastic sinew heard
on the excellent 1982 release
English Sertlement is tempered
by orchestral arrangements and
mid-tempo excursions
anchored by Moulding’s mas-
terfully fluid bass work.

Moulding and Partridge
remain clever wordsmiths, and

reward their listeners with an
enriching, experience,

Already finished for release
later this vear (possibly August}
is Apple Veaus Volume
rumoured to be a more electric
affair.

B kk Sharlene Wallace —
Journey of Shadows,
Sharlene Wallace 1998,
SWCDI62

“In the bleak midwinter
frosty wind made monn, earth
stood bard as iron, water like a
stone; aio had fallen, sow on
snow, sun unt snow, in the bleak
midwinter, long age.” —
Christina Georgina Rossetti
(1830-189-4)

Toronto-based Celtic
harpist Sharlene Wallace turns
to gentle snaw for thematic
inspirational. The result is a
shimmering quilt of delicate
sound.

The disc features Celtic,
South American and original
music. The musicians joining
Wallace for a wintry ride are
George Koller (double bass),
Rick Shadrach Lazar (percus-
sion), Rob Piltch (guitar),
Carlos del Juco (harmonica),
Evelyne Datl (piano) and David
Travers-Smith (trumpet).

Order it through Festival
Distribution: 1-800-633-8282.
Hear her live when she opens
for Craobh Rua (traditional
Irish music) 8 p.m. March 12 at
the WISE Fail.

@ axxk*The String Cheese
Incident — ‘Round The
Wheel, Sci Fidelity Records
1998, 1063

Here’s an example of what
good fur can be had when 2
group of talented musicians
induige in more than a bit of
musical gerice blending.

They have 130 trouble mix-,
ing up bluegrass, salsa, funk,
rock and jazz.Catching the
vibe left in the wake of the
Grateful Dead, String Cheese
is happy to have its fans tape
shows and even provide line
feeds to the masses direct from

_ Solebrating £0 Years of Musical Theatre

Tae Graater Vanccuver Sporatic Sculety
proudly presents the 1989 production of

My Sar Lady

Book ond Lyrics by
ALAN JAY LERNER

DiracteriChorecgraghsy fiuricel Director
SAMIZ ZAGOUDAXIS EARL HORICH

4

Music by
FREDERICK LOEWE

adapted frecs Geerge Bornard Shav’s

featuring

OO WRIcHT ALEC BUND:
as Dootittic

DUNCAN BELL ANGUS STUART
0% Pickering a2 Freddy

Set Gezigner
STEWART FAIRLEY

the soundboard.

Add Hala Hoops, which
apparently make up some of
the live performance fan tun,
and you've got the fikelthood
ofa special event.

The Suing Cheese Incident
are Michael Rang on electric
and acoustic mandolin and vio-
lin, Bill Nershi on six-string
acoustic guitar, Keith Moseley
on five-stting electric bass, Kyte
Hollingsworth on piano,
organ, Rhodes and accordion
and Michael Travis on drums
and percussion.

Sce them five on Saturday,
March 6 at The Vogue. Buy
tickets locally at Shadow Video
on Lonsdale in North Van or
through TicketMaster.

harbour ond
its fascinating
activities await
you from your
garden terrace
or generous a o

4

Photo Jeremy Stein

THE String Cheese incident promise dancing fun at The Vogue, March 6.

“
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