River Island play an upfront & eclectic selection of music in their shops, that spans across most of today’s genres, they pick what they consider to be new and exciting, from the current and the breaking artists, that are doing the do. Customers began asking what the tracks were, and where they could get them. So being the sussed high street retailer that they are, they’ve put together ‘River Island Sets The Tone ‘Our Favourite New Sounds’, and made it available to the public. Rough Trade’s 1990’s open the album with their bold as you like crowd pleaser ‘You’re Supposed To Be My Friend’. Then before you know it, you’re duck diving and gliding across the floor to some modern day northern soul, courtesy of Casino with the excellent ‘Floorshaker’. The Black Ghosts deliver a fat slab of electro in the shape of ‘Face’, and Fatboy Slim’s ‘Champion Sound’ keeps the Brighton vibe going. Natalie Williams‚ beautiful soul drenched ‘This Girl’ comes in next, closely followed & complemented by Youngun & Mr Thing’s ‘Carried Away’, and The Voom Blooms take us on a trip round the sleazy side of town, with their brilliant punky skanker ‘The Models Of Soho’. Other highlights include The Infadels ‘Girl That Speaks No Words’, C-Mone ‘Ride’, Data Rock ‘Fa Fa Fa’, X-Press 2 with Radio 4’s Anthony Roman ‘17’, and last but definitely not least, The Freelance Hellraiser brings the curtain down with his feel good Balearic anthem ‘Want You To Know’. ‘River Island Sets The Tone’ is only available from their own shops, and I think they’re on to a winner here.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: DEAN THATCHER
