CD of the week: Keith Henderson
Boo! continue their climb towards glittery Munki Punk superstardom with the release of their first CD, which happens to be called Pineapple Flava (the cassette is Banana Flava). Having been in existence for just over a year, the trio – which consists of seasoned South African musos Chris Chameleon, Ampie Omo and Princess Leonie – are now poised to impregnate the minds of devoted followers not only at gigs, but also in the comfort of their own homes.
Pineapple Flava is the culmination of a wild rollercoaster ride that barely stops for breath before continuing. The combination of trumpet, bass guitar and drums produces a sound uniquely their own, but with a universal appeal. Boo! are well positioned to take on the rest of the world in the way that only they can – dress up, fool around and conquer.
Fans can rest assured: all those tracks that get boomed out at gigs are here. The album begins with OO AA, a track of lost love which demands to be played over and over. Anjils follows, with Chameleon producing the now legendary angel monologue at the end. Munki Punk is the only effective means of describing Boo!
The album is like an acid sunset which can always be repeated. Special mention must be made of the moreish Mud, the honest Krusti (“If you love somebody/ They will love it/ They may not love you/ But they will love it”), the advice of Dick’s Advys and the very funky mix of Lucki by Battery 9’s Arnuad Vliet. But the crowning glory of Pineapple Flava is Duv Mafia, a track which only employs vocals in the form of various instruments and sounds. This is a track which, obviously, will never be performed on stage, so fans of the band need to get out there and buy the album to hear such perfection.
Soundbites
La Promessa (Erato) Perfect style and exquisite taste perhaps best describe this elegant recital by Sumi Jo, accompanied by Vincenzo Scalera. In an Italian recital ranging from Giordani’s Caro mio ben through Handel’s Lascia ch’io pianga to Verdi’s Ad una stella, the Korean soprano, here showing a new richness in her lower register added to her still bell-like lyric high register, spins phrases of breathtaking beauty and refinement, without any exaggeration la Bartoli. An absolute treasure. – Coenraad Visser
McAlmont: A Little Communication (Hut) The calibre of David McAlmont’s soaring voice has never been in question, but he too easily tips over into hysteria. In these minimalist soul settings, he reveals a more controlled and engaging style. – Neil Spencer
David S Ware: Go See the World (Columbia) A stalwart of second-generation free jazz, David Ware has run his own group since the Seventies. He appears here for the first time on a major label. As a tenor saxophonist, Ware extracts a fair volume of noise in the grand manner, though one can often find a structure lurking underneath. The longest, most immediately impressive track is the standard The Way We Were, a gargantuan display of energy gainfully employed. – Ronald Atkins