The Whip

Being in the Whip right now must be a double-edged sword. Since debuting some 18 months ago, they've burst out of the Manchester scene with aplomb but ironically all anyone can talk about in their reviews is the Happy Mondays. Then again, they're not exactly helping themselves. Bruce Carter's monotone voice and the lack of diversification within the songs certainly echoes the spirit of Factory Records but the influence from their nu-rave contemporaries is more than apparent on standout tracks "Dubsex" and "Blackout." The whole album conveys a depth of sound and feeling that few electro bands can muster, and it seems they're only just getting started. If Tony Wilson's soul found another vessel when his body expired, then that vessel might well be the Whip, but there are still four other personalities in there combining to produce something that's so much more than just Madchester revival music.