The Animalhouse: Ready To Receive (BMG)

Dabbling in psychedelia can be a dangerous game; you either end up sounding like addled old hippies, or worse, you sound exactly like The Seahorses. Happily, The Animalhouse are well able to ride the psychedelic beast, and the presence of past masters Mark Gardener and Lawrence Colbert from Ride adds to the authenticity. Joining them are Sam Williams, who has worked on the first two Supergrass albums, along with the wonderfully-named Hari Teah and Jason King. The album is a winner both for the sound (Theremin, Moog, Hammond organ and lots of luverly guitar) and the songs (Space Trash, Animal House, Wasted and Sunday Driver rock in all the right places); even the tracklisting flows beautifully, all the way from the exuberant title track to the reflective Always Be. Pass the rizlas and let it rock.

- Kevin Courtney

De La Soul: Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (Tommy Boy)

For many, the De La Soul story begins and ends with Three Feet High & Rising. More's the pity for them, because there have been sterling tracks and quality moments in the 11 years since that Daisy Age was declared and we were introduced to Jennifer and friends. While their acid whitewash bellbottom jeans may be more muted now, the trio can still structure some tricky rhythms and clever bases to keep you humming. Thru Ya City has a lick of the Lovin Spoonful, while Redman on Oooh and the Beastie Boys on Squat throw some useful quality shapes to aid the momentum. De La's own agenda is always uppermost and their funky realism does shift both feet and braincells. A triumph in every sense of the word.

- Jim Carroll