Weekly > Reviews
The Frank Pop Ensemble - The Frank Popp Ensemble
I know in reviewing some music in the past that i’ve either slated it, or viewed an album in slightly less than favourable terms due to the fact that it seems to have drawn too much inspiration from the past. Usually these are albums that are lazy in showing the influences that go into it and they leave you thinking “what is the point”?
Every so often a band come along and show you how to dip into music from the past, use those influences, wear them on your sleeve like a badge, but do it so well and with such style that you can’t help but love the album anyway. Not out of nostalgia or because it takes you back to a time that you weren’t around to experience yourself, no this is because it’s just bloody fantastic pop music.
The Frank Popp Ensemble are one such outfit. Based around German Frank Popp (unconfirmed if that is his real name), they are unashamedly 1960’s. Nearly every track here is infused with a smattering of Northern Soul or early R & B influence. The thing is though the way it’s been done it doesn’t sound dated at all, its just fantastically fun stuff all the way through, each track is an absolute stomper that would see you heading for the dance floor in a club or if like me you’ve been listening to it at home and on the bus then you find yourself dancing inside with joy.
- The Frank Pop Ensemble
- The Frank Popp Ensemble (2005)
- Category: Album
- Label: Ace Of Clubs
- Reviewed by: Kev
- Published on: 01 Jan 2006
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
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Add to favouritesSo how do you pick some favourite tracks from this party album (it really would be perfect to put on to get some people grooving in the kitchen at a party). The opener and recent single Love Is On Our Side is a real straight up Northern Soul shaker so that scores heavily with it’s silky female vocals. If you want a male vocal track then i’d probably opt for Psychedelic Girl.
The best on here for me is the swinging pop of Hip Teens Don’t Wear Blue Jeans, avoid the fashion advice and just enjoy the song for what it is…an absolute cracker. A final mention track wise goes to The Thing Demands which I can only really describe as a space funker.
Fantastic stuff from start to finish, one great track after another with a mixture of live music and vocals mixed in with samples and you’ve got the album of 2005 that is likely to put the biggest smile on your face. I don’t think you can ask for a lot more really can you.
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