Cd Reviews

Newcastle Herald

Thursday January 15, 2009

Anita Beaumont

THE BPA

I Think Were Gonna Need a Bigger

Boat

* * * ?

THE BPA, which stands for Brighton

Port Authority, is the latest project of

Norman Fatboy Slim Cook and his

long time collaborator, producer Simon

Thornton.

It comes with a pretty back story of an

underground music project sometime

in the 70s that was so underground

even insiders were shaky on the details.

But while bubbling with danceable

retro-rock, this guest-heavy records

sounds are polished with unmistakably

modern production.

Iggy Pop, Martha Wainwright, Emmy

The Great, Jamie T, David Byrne and

Dizzee Rascal lend their talents to

highlights of the album (Toe Jam, Hes

Frank, Should I Stay Or Should I Blow

and Spade), while the tracks performed

by lesser-known artists tend to be hit

and miss.

But on the whole, this is a commendable

collaborative effort.

STEVE KOPANDY

A True Dream

* * * ?

THIS is part two of Newcastle artist

Steve Kopandys double album,

of which part one  Based On  was

released separately.

Without having heard part one, this

appropriately titled second half takes

listeners on a sleepy adventure through

the streets of Europe.

A True Dream sounds like it could

have been borne of the 1980s with its

lush synths, harmonies and occasional

saxophone solos.

Songs such as RocknRoll, Soho and

The Coffee are reminiscent of Mike and

the Mechanics, and Tears For Fears,

and by the time listeners get to track

four, Amsterdam, Kopandy has hit his

stride.

If it werent for his raw vocals wailing

with emotion on Castle, the stripped

back piano and ethereal production

would border on relaxation music.

But he manages to strike the right

balance between quiet electro pop and

cruisy chill-out in this lovely collection of

songs.

 Anita Beaumont

© 2009 Newcastle Herald

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