REVIEW: Ralley, Ralley (Logic/BMG Europe)

- Tim Mohr

Distinguishing themselves with *the* summer single for European pop people, Ralley have sprung from Cologne, Germany, into the limelight with the Cardigans-esque "Zelten" ("Camping").

A swirl of vintage organ, guitars, and "la la la"s, "Zelten" typifies the light, energetic sound of the self-titled debut. Suzie's vocals, particularly on the defiantly apathetic chorus, "scheiss egal, scheiss egal..." (a scatalogical way of saying "it doesn't matter" along the lines of "I don't give a shit"), are both perfectly suited to the music and inescapably alluring.

The catchy melodies on Ralley never let up, and the occasional theft of a classic ("30 KM" uses Bowie's "Heroes," and "Kuess mich" borrows heavily from the soul classic "Cool Jerk," which was also covered by the Go-Go's - which may explain how Ralley came up with it) can be ignored because of the fantastic original flair of "Zelten," "Halt mich" ("Hold me"), "Ich zeig Dir was" ("I'll show you something"), the groovy "Biest" ("Beast"), and others.

The lyrics are clever, consciously girly, and staunchly opposed to anything of much consequence. The similarities to Sweden's Cardigans are obvious, though unlike other slavish imitators of the Cardigans (Finnland's Pansies, for instance), Ralley are just too good to be written off as mere pretenders. Ralley were also confident enough about such comparisons to record in Stockholm.

Below the surface, and particularly live, Ralley are easily distinguished from the Cardigans: their approach is tinged throughout with a punky sensibility that can recall Elastica or Kenickie. And the Cardigans' fascination with jurassic hard rock is not reflected in Ralley's tastes: while the Cardigans have covered Black Sabbath, Thin Lizzy and Ozzy, Rally do "Substitute" from the Who's early Beat phase.

Heavy dependence on Cardigans references is an injustice to Ralley, as they create terrific, light pop with their own style and personality. A list of other comparisons - Comet Gain, Helen Love, Rocketship - would unfortunately say very little to most people. The debut record from Ralley deserves attention of its own, and comparisons to the Cardigans are only a tribute to the fundamental quality of what Ralley do.

Note: This album is rumoured to be released in an English version sometime in 1997 or early 1998.