A GUY CALLED GERALD/RAP ASSASSINS/KISS AMC
Zap Club, Brighton

Not bad for a support act. Stereo rappin', a guy called Jealous MC (really), proper drummer and a cameo appearance from indie rappers Kiss AMC.

Rap Assassins play it hard and are never less than convincing, firing daggers of dexxxx into a crowd warming to them with every 'Yowww' and 'Dig It'.

Their drummer, Steve, is blind and quite brilliant, lending the whole scenario a feeling of spontaneity and somehow a touch of grace.

The much-lauded Kiss AMC added spice and diversity while never once threatening to dethrone the Assassins. Rapping with ease and gusto, the AMCs were impressive against the Rap Assassin backdrop, but their appearance was all too brief, consisting of little more than a couple of songs, 'A Bit Of U2' standing out like Michel Platini alongside Brighton And Hove Albion's much-maligned and fittingly named John Crumplin.

And so to the main attraction, A Guy Called Gerald. It's always been something of a grey area as to whether housey atmopsherics could really translate to the live stage, since the best they can hope for is to recreate the perfection they achieve on vinyl, therefore relegating the whole thing to little more than repeat status.

Many of Gerald's songs are taken from the forthcoming LP 'Autamanikk' and the title track, 'Eyes Of Sorrow' and 'Cut Like (I Feel Rhythm)' were adequately reproduced thanks to some mesmerising Mezzoforte-ish keyboards and workmanlike vocals.

None of these came close to matching the excellent 'Voodoo Ray', a definite high note in a set that Gerald ensured was always interesting, but seldom inspired.

[Reviewer: Tim Southwell]