TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : ****Excellent ***Good **Fair *Poor : COMPACT DISCS

“Lonely Is an Eyesore.” 4AD (import). A Melody Maker cover story on this new compilation called 4AD “Britain’s most stylish, most idiosyncratic, most independent label.” In these pop-wasteland times, that may be true. But 4AD’s soaring reputation is due almost entirely to one great group, the Cocteau Twins. “Eyesore” only serves to show that labelmates the Wolfgang Press, Clan of Xymox, Dif Juz and Dead Can Dance (one track each except for the last, which has two) are OK at concocting downbeat atmospherics and that Throwing Muses (the one U.S. band) and Colourbox transcend the same-old-moodiness of the others to deliver intriguing, manic swirls of much promise. However, nothing here is masterful or magical; even the contributions by the Cocteaus and This Mortal Coil (a collaborative 4AD project) are below par. A 30-page booklet is included, containing a discography that also covers 4AD’s former bands like Bauhaus and the Birthday Party. Sound: fair. ** 1/2