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Not just a one-song band, though The Last Film I Ever Saw is a star track. Others are arresting, particularly Frightened In France and Love Lasts Forever. (James Belsey)

Looking at the list of instrumentals a group plays usually gives you some hint of what the music doesn't sound like. For instance, if vibes are listed, you can pretty much bet it's not country-rock or heavy metal. Or if there's a trumpet or cello listed, it's probably not another Loverboy saccharin rock clone. Kissing The Pink's six members play drums, bass, guitar, keyboards... and saxophone, percussion and violin. Plus, all six of them sing. Throw in the fact that NAKED has a stark, arty cover and you may be getting a better idea of what Kissing The Pink sounds like.

Their music travels a roving territory, somewhere between Camel and Thompson Twins. The exact location fluctuates from song to song, offering a fluidly varying soundscape that's sometime infectiously snappy, and other times just melodically enveloping. All 12 tracks hit it and quit it, getting to the point (and usually the hook) quickly and not overstaying a welcome. Each song has unique qualities to recommend it as an individual entity.

Previous British singles "The Last Film" and "Watching Their Eyes" soar through dream-like atmospheres, with the latter setting a much friskier pace. "All For You" stands out in these days of overt Top 40 single-itis with its daring minimalism. It serves a sonic wash of airy vocals and slinky sax and synths in a savory concoction. "Broken Body" and "Love Lasts Forever" amiably court the dancefloor legions without sounding like tried-and-true triteness, while "In Awe Of Industry" scores by building a majestic neo-wall of sound. NAKED has much more depth than most debut LPs, and it proves Kissing The Pink capable of delivering more than the usual tasty licks.

Brian Gomez

Talents laid bare on the haunting hit "THe Last Film," while the dramatic production of "Watching Their Eyes" is even better, and the odd, robotic "The Big Man Restless" and pulsating "Desert Song" come close.