Bird: “Chances” (Bird/Peer Pressure Records)/ Georgia: “Technological Bridge To Your Heart” (Danceline Records)

You don’t often hear Irish bands attempting fully-fledged soul music. Bird, at least, sound convincing enough on that score. On ‘Chances’ they make a case for the injustice of the lack of opportunities to better oneself in Irish society. The work ethic gets short shrift and love is upheld as one of the few virtues, yet something about ‘Chances’ melodic style detracts from its substance. On the other hand, with shades of a mellower Squeeze about them, Georgia draw appropriately lucid attention to their lyrical jousting but, in attempting to be too radio friendly, they flirt dangerously with selling themselves short on the musical side.