Album Review

The Cherry Boppers – Live Demo

• 2nd Feb 2008

It’s something of a surprise to learn that Cherry Boppers (CB) aren’t 70s Detroit originals but are actually from Bilbao, Spain. And even though it sometimes feels like CB are simply playing by numbers when they should be getting wild and letting rip, they don’t fail to entertain, please or more importantly, prove themselves to be the fly-namic musicians they are. I can’t say the same of their less dynamic sound though; I can’t help but feel that the production might be too clean and polished and somehow neglects the all important crash of the cymbals here and the searing screech of the brass there.

La Pulguita: Sample worthy free-styling on a funk fuelled jazz tip! Surely clear cut contenders for providing the theme tune to the next Reeves & Mortimer venture. They summon memories of early day Charlatans too with their Hammond work and perhaps Thee Hypnotics with the brass blasts. Nevertheless, well done on producing one hell of an EP opener!

Black Lolita: The slow burning yet ever escalating Black Lolita soon springs to its structured, rampant and undeniably engaging feet. It’s surely better for dancing to than simply sitting and listening, as I’m sure the same can be said of all the tracks found here, but you’re still gonna find yourself clapping your hands like a 60s speed fuelled preacher shimmying up any disco mountain.

Freakman: A super slinky intro leads us into a track that could’ve easily strayed from the Beastie Boys Mix Up or In Sound… sessions. S-Express (remember them?) would’ve loved to get their mitts on this I can tell you!

4 Cats: Perhaps less imaginative than its predecessors, 4 Cats still holds its own despite a distinct lack of punch that CB have packed throughout so far. It almost feels like were treading on all too familiar territory too, though I’m sure the next track should distract us from that.

Watermelon Man: A somewhat restrained, safe cover of Herbie Hancock’s ‘Watermelon Man’ follows and though it serves its purpose well and is sufficiently executed, I can’t help but feel that CB missed a golden chance to show us how to let it all hang loose.

CB certainly would’ve and surely should attract the attention of many a hip hop act eager for funky flashes of sample worthy jazz, as they should also attract worthwhile attention from the industry’s bigwigs. Their music is fresh and fantastic and given their chosen field of operation, I can’t wait to hear just what direction they’ll go in or what focal point they’ll approach next. Wherever they end up, they should record the next session a little later in the day, long after any spark sucking siestas. We must bear in mind that these tracks are simply recorded live jams, not obsessively moulded masterpieces, so congratulations CB, congratulations on a mighty fine live 5-track EP.