Other pop CD releases
Holly Johnson, Soulstream, (Pleasuredome)
3/5
Having spent most of this decade waging his own war against Aids, it’s not surprising that Holly Johnson’s first album in years has a decidedly spiritual bent. The hedonism of the Frankie years now just a glitzy memory, his new philosophy runs something like: “Radiate light, love power, set free your soul.” That’s from Hallelujah!, whose rather pat optimism resurfaces on The Best Invention (the best invention being love, of course) and All U Need Is Love. The message would resound more profoundly if it were accompanied by some decent tunes, rather than colourless beats-by-the-yard that do nothing for Johnson’s reedy voice. By default, the best tracks are the campest: the nostalgic Disco Heaven and Legendary Children, which lists gay historical figures (is he quite sure about Shakespeare?).