Island Hopping-Joe Strummer (Epic): Not Joe's finest moment but a jolly calypso-inspired beat and a carefree summery song released, perversely, as the nights draw in and the frosts grow cold.

JOE STRUMMER — Island Hopping (Epic): Uncle Joe lives up to his name with a hint of Caribbean coconut and a sniff of sea air. Is this the man who once set London on fire? Island Hopping would not even disturb the natives.

Ex-Clash man Joe Strummer has released Island Hopping which sounds definitely Hawaiian (Joe what happened?).

JOE STRUMMER — Earthquake Weather (Epic):

THIS is Strummer's first proper album since "Combat Rock," if you don't count his soundtrack work and the truly dire "Cut The Crap."

He's wisely held on to the Latino Rockabilly War, the band that served him so ably on his highly acclaimed tour last year and they don't let him down here either.

Strummer's still happy to portray himself as a rebel rocker as the silhouette of him — ciggie drooping from his lips and his guitar slung over his shoulder — on the cover attests.

HOLLERING

What's surprising is that there's plenty of fire left in his belly and his dead tone hollering is effective as ever.

The LP kicks off with "Gangsterville," and proceeds to tread a path through straight ahead rock, street funk, bebop, reggae, folk and calypso.

Reminiscent of the same mix of influences that made much of the Clash's material so interesting, "Earthquake Weather," is definitely a return to form.

RIPPING

"Island Hopping," the current single, is a laid back trip through the Caribbean, but shortly afterwards, Strummer's ripping it up again on the excellent Paris, and "Jewellers and Bums," ensure the LP never gets stuck in any particular musical rut.

Although the winsome reggae of "Ride Your Donkey," can prove grating after a few spins.

With that exception, "Earthquake Weather," is a great record — who would have thought that after all this time Strummer could still come up with the goods.

If this is anything to go by, his gig at the Royal Court in Liverpool tomorrow should be a stormer.

(8 out of 10) J. D.

Joe Strummer — right back to form. Code NA

* "ISLAND HOPPING" is taken from Joe's recently released first (non-soundtrack) solo LP "EARTHQUAKE WEATHER" released 2nd October 1989.

* "ISLAND HOPPING" is the follow up to "GANGSTERVILLE" which was released August 14th.

* Joe is currently on tour:

OCTOBER

Friday 6th Glasgow Barrowlands
Saturday 7th Manchester International II
Sunday 8th Birmingham Hummingbird
Monday 9th Bristol Studio
Wednesday 11th Norwich UEA
Thursday 12th Town & Country Club
Friday 13th Town & Country Club
Saturday 14th Liverpool Royal Court
Monday 16th Brighton Top Rank
Tuesday 17th Cardiff University

* Joe has personally made his own video produced and edited it. The video shows tranquil scenes from this years Notting Hill Carnival

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

JACQUI ADAMS/ALFE HOLLINGSWORTH - 734 8181