(3-track single/ 'RUBYWORKS')
Aslan, allegedly, are THE hottest band in Ireland. Apparently they're Ireland's 'best-kept musical secret.'
Quite how Aslan and their music haven't as-yet filtered across into the UK and embedded themselves in our consciences is beyond me, especially when - in September 2001 - one of their LPs kept Kylie Minogue off the Album chart's top-spot.
What's more, they're something of a veteran institution their side of the Irish Sea, having been a band in spirit for circa 21 years� having released their debut single in 1986, having unleashed their debut LP in 1988 after which they split for five years, and having reformed and kept on going again since 1993.
Aslan are a band steeped just as much in melodies as they are in checkered history. But once their music is doing the speaking, that's all that matters - and their 'Crazy World' involves vibrant acoustic guitars, an epic string arrangement that backs the tune and a musical style of easy-going soft pop-rock that reminds of good fellow Irish boys The Saw Doctors, Del Amitri (if fronted by Rod Stewart) and modern-day Genesis.
For good measure with this single they include a remix and live version of the same track, the latter smattered with over-ecstatic fans singing along euphorically so as to further prove their 'alleged' popularity in their native country. Mmm� and what do you know, after this single comes their album: 'Made in Dublin.'
Named after the lion in CS Lewis' 'Chronicles of Narnia' literary saga, I honestly think that this band shelter the potential to follow in The Corrs' nice and sweet footsteps to become a household name all around the UK within the next couple of years: their music is that mainstream-suited, sublimely catchy and wisely inoffensive. 4/5 (STEVE RUDD)
Release Date: September 29th 2003.
www.aslan.ie