Rip It Up

by Alex OggJoined by Malcolm Ross (ex-Josef K) and sublime percussionist Zeke Manyika, Edwyn Collins moved further away from the pure pop sound of old and further into cross-rhythms and skinny-white-boy funk on this, Orange Juice's second album. That the band was not wholly submerged or embarrassed by this bold move is a tribute to Collins' skill as a songwriter as much as their musicianship. In truth, his world view was still dominated by romance and relationships, or the lack thereof, but he was finding ever more appealing avenues of expression to document his disappointments. The title track is the standout -- it gave Collins a fleeting glimpse of the U.K. Top Ten when it was released as a single -- but "I Can't Help Myself" is another thoroughbred effort.