Bohemian Rapping Fandango

The Braids: "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Big Beat)

From the soundtrack of the movie High School High comes a hip hop version of the classic Queen anthem, done in a Fugee style. White boys with names like Wayne and Garth will choke on their chewing gum when they hear this heresy: no grandiosity, no guitar solo, and the biggest crime of all - no mock opera middle bit. Nice trip hoppy beat, though, and the female singer puts some soul into the sad tale. Freddie Mercury must be breakdancing in his grave.

Fast Seventeen featuring

Gabrielle: "If You Ever" (London)

The Walthamstow wideboys and the pirate patched soul queen team up for this fairly run of the mill ballad, a cover of a 1993 Number One hit by American band Shai (record buyers' memories get shorter every decade). At least it's a more appropriate pairing than Lulu and Take That. On the sleeve art, the numeral 17 has been replaced by the spelled out version, perhaps a sign that the Easties are making a subtle bid for a more "mature" audience. Why not go all the way and change their name to East Thirtysomething?

Heaven 17: "Designing Heaven" (WEA)

No such numerical dilemmas for these early Eighties synth poppers, a splinter group from the Human League, who are obviously hoping that today's teenies will buy into their old fashioned pre fab paradise. All three original members, Glenn Gregory, Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware, are present, correct and, one presumes, still wearing suits. One thing bothers me, though: if this is heaven, why have they designed it to sound exactly the same as Phil Oakey's bunch?

Suede:"The Beautiful Ones"

(Nude)

The Suede resurrection continues apace with this second single from the band's brilliant Coming Up album, a flamboyant parade of sleazebags and lowlifes, "high on diesel and gasoline". Sounds just like my kinda people. Richard Oakes's crispy guitar intro sets the sordid scene, and Brett takes up the trashy torch with bum slapping gusto. As immediate and invigorating as, well, a good sniff of premium unleaded.

Cast: "Flying" (Polydor)

John Power and his guitar jangling Cast have been criticised for the distinct lack of drama in their retro brand of Britpop, and this new single doesn't help their case one bit. Those of us who remember the Fender bending glory of Alright and Fine Time will find this one a bit of a non starter. With its "you gotta fly": refrain, it reminds too much of an under achieving Scouse Oasis.

Mundy: "Life's A Cinch"

(Epic)

If you thought boy from Birr was just another folkie, this one will prove that the kid can rock out with the grungiest of em. Life's A Cinch is Mundy's best single so far, and the crunching guitars combine nicely with the nursery rhyme chorus. Strangely for a song with a positive message, it sounds rather downbeat, like Soundgarden doing All You Need Is Love.

The Ultra Montanes: "Anyway" (Lakota)

Ireland's own stylish sleazoids bring out their second single, a distorted mix of New York Dolls glam, Sex Pistols sneer and Tom Verlaine irony. In true downtown mode, The Ultra Montanes are seen at all the best ligs, and singer Rory is becoming, a small but tightly fitted fashion icon, a sort of Thin White Warhol. We re not sure if The Ultra Montanes are more style than substance, but we'll give this tune the thumbs up anyway.

Sebadoh: "Ocean" (Domino)

Lou Barlow is of course the Antistyle, but this new single from America's lowest fi band is quite a cool little number, bouncing along on choppy waves of guitar, and rolling merrily along on leisurely lyrical cruise. God bless, the doh and all who sail with em.