Not since the likes of Abba and Bucks Fizz graced the Eurovision Song Contest has public anticipation been so great. As with a lot of Eurotrash it sinks so low that irony forces it back into the public's heart and 2002's collection of mullets and mono-syllable choruses looks set to be a winner. Flying the flag for the UK is Pop Idol contestant Jessica Garlick with a sweet MOR ballad showing what a great voice she has. Another one to watch out for is Greece's "tough" looking Michalis Rakintzis whose "SAGAPO" may draw comparisons to the high-art of Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus" in the mid-80. There are some decent non-tongue-in-cheek entries from Croatia's Vesna Pisarovic, the home country's Sahlene and, lest we forget, Sergio & the Ladies. A highlight apart from Aivaras' hair is Finland's Laura with the Kylie-disco sound of "Addicted to You" which could never be predicted as a winner but you never know.
Following on from Laura the album improves rapidly with each song as upbeat and fun as the next except for the pass-me-the-razor ballad of Monica & Marcel which is still good, but a touch depressing. This is a good collection of songs with a fantastic array of larger than life personalities and in the good spirit of Eurovision, plenty for Terry Wogan to sneer at. --David Trueman