Soho's "Hippychick" is a brilliant slice of early-'90s pop. Splicing together the iconic guitar riff from
the Smiths' "How Soon Is Now" and a version of the sampled drumbeat borrowed from
Soul II Soul with the twin sisters Jacqui and Pauline singing of their disdain for fake hippychicks, it's a bubbling, grooving sensation of a song. That nothing on
Soho's 1990 album
Goddess quite measures up isn't a huge surprise; that the rest of their material is nearly as good just might be. Written and produced by Timothy London, the songs are built on funky samples and have sharp hooks, and whether they're diving into dub reggae ("Shake Your Thing"), doling out sunshine vibes ("Nothin' on My Mind"), or getting disco funky ("Freaky"), there are loads of fun to be had. London's production is slick but clever. Though he probably throws in more guitar solos than he needs to, the overall sound is a great blend of all the things going on in the U.K. pop music scene at the time. What is rock-solid certain is that the sisters have strong voices that sound great separately or when they sing together. Check this album out if you liked "Hippychick" -- the band may be just a one-hit wonder, but there's plenty more to like below the surface. ~ Tim Sendra