Bloosom Freak Steve Bush's album cuts a spikey rug on the low-fi What Lovers Say whilst the lyrical swoon of Vile Mouth clearly owes a nod or two to The Smiths. Its not all bedroom angst though, tracks like confidence Mr Bush set up a sultry groove and the whole album has a constant measured air to it which, with some innovative bits of arrangement (not two guitars, drums and vocals) help to lift Blossom Freak way above the turgid indie britpop mire. Definitely one to watch. *** BIG ISSUE JAN 2001

'DARK-SIDE BRISTOLIAN WITH A SELF-STYLED SOUNDTRACK TO THE GREY AREAS' Pre-emptively defensive, a sleeve quote proclaims that 'The sistrust of wit is the beginning of tyrany'. Which rather suggests that Steve Bush knows his verbal and musical flights can be obscure or self -indulgent; not least on the second trackhere, the disjointed Vile Mouth. Yet he does concoct a sound both brash and sour at once. Having greeted the devil at the crossroads of Morrissey and Georgie Fame, he funks away with a break-rhthematonal twist, defying the therapy age with It's Alright To Suffer, advertising his feebleness in Weaker Than You, but still lusting disgracefully through Reg Presley's 66-5-4-3-2-1. *** PHIL SUTCLIFFE Q MAGAZINE MARCH 2001