Sisters Of Sharon
They are known as the feisty punk chicks who have been putting shows on in the territory for the last decade, and as a group that has done a lot to boost the territory's live music scene. Underground Recipes is their third studio release. It's a well-produced album and -to be honest- it's quite a surprise. The group are best known for their live acts, not their monster sales in HMV. But listening to the CD, the real musicianship of these four stands out. "You're a Star" is a goose bump-inducing tune. A fast-paced, hypnotic track, the vocals pulse with tension. The two frontswomen, Chris Bowers and Kim Falkingham, have voices that blend very well. Here, they sing seductively around the drifting electric guitar's dance. "Goodbye" is similar in this sense. "Barbie" highlights the drumming prowess of Emma Featherstone. The New Zealander's rhythms take the lead of a track which states a complaint about the plastic lady. "She's had some ribs removed and lots/ of liposuction/ Yeah, don't be fooled, those tits had major/ re-construction" "Will You" is sung entirely in Cantonese (Bowers is Eurasian and has been teaching the rest of the group.) It is a testament to their work ethic, pointing out to listeners that life is not simply about making money. In this amusing song, Bowers screeches like a Beijing Opera star gone wrong. Meanwhile the bass line running through "Fat Pies" just begs to be sampled for a storming techno track. There is word flying about town that the Sisters are nearing their end as a group. This could be their last offering. It is undeniably their best, and while it may not be reaching forward into the musical realms of the third millennium, it's fun, light-hearted and made in Hong Kong.