Fiction by Mukala

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

Occasionally, just occasionally, you hear an album which is so good, so fresh, so fab that you feel like leaping up and down and shouting to anyone who cares to hear so here goes...THIS ALBUM IS BRILLIANT!!!!! Ahhh, I feel better now. Mukala are built around the song-writing talents of one Dan Mukala who pens poptabulous pieces of vibey, dancey, poppy rock that defies easy pigeonholing. Drum loops loop, there's plenty of guitar and strange keyboards and electric sounds to give this a wonderful quirky feel. But more than that, this is such a brilliant collection of songs - there's the inherent catchiness of "Ice Age" or "Skip To The End" with its apocalyptic overtures. There's the amazing "Story Of Her Life" which in style is reminiscent of Space but behind the jolly lilting melody, the lyrics are a sad eulogy to a life never lived because of abortion. Powerful stuff. "Soap" was heard on last ish's CR cassette and it's a simple song about the grace that washes sins away. "Regret" has one of those loopy grooves that it's impossible not to fall for it! Dan Mukala writes the kind of tunes that won't leave you alone and the arrangements here make this totally compelling listening! "High" combines eerie sounds, a jungley loop and yet another catchy melody to create a haunting effect. The closing "Jesus Shirt" is as fine a challenge to consumerist faddy Christianity as you'll ever want to hear! Comparisons with Beck and Smashmouth will give you the right ballpark but in reality Mukala take Christian music into the next millennium. Got to be one of '98's best albums!