Lucid 3: Running Down the Keys

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * )

On their promising debut album Auckland-based Lucid 3 offer something that most New Zealand bands shy away from - songs about sex.

Guitarist frontwoman Victoria Girling-Butcher certainly sings them terrifically with a coital ache from the Kate Bush/Tori Amos/Alanis vocal school over a sinuous semi-acoustic, bluesy rock backing. However, those "songs about sex" are verbose, incoherent things, apparently suffering under the influence of either too much Anais Nin (name-checked in Curious) or Basic Instinct (as Girling-Butcher asks in Glacial "where's my ice pick?). And following the early highlight Smooth Machine with an electronic encore Shake The Smooth Machine feels a little like padding.

Still, it's hard to not be swayed by the likes of the Kate Bush homage on Something Incestuous, the hot-for-teacher nonsense that is Paradigm or the delightfully swooning finale Rock'n'Roll Thieves. Sexy, but confused.

Label: Lupin /Global Routes