ZIRCON GOV. PAWN STARZ

FOLLYWOOD Zircon Gov. Pawn Starz (XY Recordings/Universal) BACK in February, radio DJ-turned-pop dominatrix Suzanne Walker hijacked the MTV Asia Awards with a chest-baring stunt so hilariously sluttish (and yet coyly not baring any nipples), it added real anarchy to a parade of toothy, 'I love-Singapore' popsters.Walker - also known as Sue-Sue Law in her rock-star persona - has ganged up with Singapore's very own punk-monk X'Ho and his former Zircon Lounge partner-in-crime Yeow to form a nu electro trio that takes the mickey out of everything, not least themselves. Which is why Follywood - a glorious spoof of the land of dreams as transposed to Singapore, the 'ultimate land of prefab sprouts' - should be seen as an invaluable entry to the nation's ongoing efforts to loosen up. As a matter of course, the establishment should view Zircon Gov. Pawn Starz with utmost derision. After all, that is the band's raison d'etre - to push all the buttons of the prude and prissy and get their heartbeats to race a little. In all departments - from sound to imagery - the Pawn Starz ride the line between glamorous porn-star sleaze and good humour with superb sass. With guest spots by Munich electronic gurus Chicks On Speed, German diva Mia and Thailand's electro-rockers Futon, these guys are cosmopolitan crusaders on a rampage. X'Ho is in his element mouthing acerbic witticisms in original songs like the pumped-up, motorised diatribe called Mouthless Fish, parlaying his sultry radio-DJ croon to devastating effect: 'They'll arm-lock you but you won't choke.' So straight is his delivery, it bleeds heart-wrenching empathy. Such is the subversive appeal of the Pawn Starz: They regularly ping-pong between pain and joy, between pity and irrationality in their decidedly catchy synth-pop anthems against inertia. Take a listen to the raucous version of New Hampshire pop-punk band The Queers' Drop The Attitude, F***er with added references to reality shows and Channel 8. Even more salacious is the acidic Nag Nag Nag, where Ms Sue-Sue Law struts as a hardcore school mistress, sounding like, surprise, Suzanne Vega gone to seed. In short, the Pawn Starz are the mogwai of Singapore pop-culture, wreaking havoc and leaving you not a little breathless.