Hothouse Flowers: “This Is It.” (London); An Emotional Fish: “Hole In My Heaven” (Atlantic)

My expectations of this latest salvo from the Hothouse Flowers could not have been any more wildly inaccurate. Instead of the boring, pedantic Liam O’Maonlai dominating they deliver a really soulful heartfelt song which, at times, oozes with style and is reminiscent of Willie de Ville at his sultry sexual peak. Fortunately I was bang on in relation to An Emotional Fish. It’s a rough, tough song, boasting powerful guitars, solid rhythms and near howling vocals. It is these qualities that are making the Fish a great deal more enduring than was predicted by many.