Variety

December 7-13, 1988

The Primitives

The Roxy, Los Angeles, California

The Primitives' debut album, "Lovely", is one of the most enjoyable of the year, but almost all of the British band's charm was lost live because diminutive chanteuse Tracey appeared to be having not a bit of fun.

Apparently bored -- or terrified -- to no end, Tracey delivered the group's carefully crafted melodies and lyrics with about as much enthusiasm as a kid shows at the dentist's office. Never cracking a smile -- or showing any expression, for that manner -- she sang by rote, often going flat.

 Perhaps she was nervous. When guitarist and chief songwriter Paul Court took center stage to sing a song, Tracey appeared relieved to be able to step aside and shake her tambourine in the corner. Or maybe she just can't sing and emote at the same time.

None of this seemed to bother a core of pogoers in the center of the very crowded dance floor. As long as the rhythm remained constant -- and it did, almost relentlessly -- they bounced up and down.

Their enthusiams is not entirely unfathomable. Such memorable tunes as "Crash" and "I'll Stick With You" are hard to render completly unenjoyable. Should Tracey ever develop a performance demeanor on the order of Blondie's Debbie Harry -- with whom she often is compared -- the Primitives might just live up to their recorded promise.

--Blue