hey eugene

the third album from the ensemble known as pink martini
their last album hang on little tomato is a beauty
loved by all and sundry who come into contact with it
happy, dancey, singalong, infectious, contemporary, original music
the band is fronted by china forbes who has a voice like no other
clear as a bell, hits all the notes with ease, and a warmth that is irresistable
so i when i was handed a copy of the latest album it is with some expectation
and herein are my first impressions track by track of said album
everywhere
well there's that voice again
this one starts out like something from a 50's american movie
you know where the lead lady breaks into song at the most obvious time
the instrumentation and lyrics seem to match that setting
every time i am away from home, i am never alone
for every time we are apart, you are in my heart
for you are with me everywhere
uh-oh now either that was a piss-take song
or they are going for the big shot at commercial success - let's see
tempo perdido
now this is more like it - that familiar bossa nova sound
the brass, the backing vocals, the lyrics sung in spanish
it sounds so familiar that it could well be a cover of a classic
but knowing this outfit it's just another very clever original
that hits all the right notes and brings that comfort of familiarity
mar desconocido
continuing the theme and instrumentation and language
this one slowed down with the introduction of strings and a harp
she really has such a stunning voice
seems that the words pink martini are synonomous with china forbes
taya tan
uh-oh again - now it seems we're taking a shot at the asian market
taya tan, taya tan, taya tan sounding like something
that the winner of japan idol would toss out as their first single
which may not be a bad thing but it does seem overly contrived
(getting a bit worried now)
city of night
flamenco guitar at work here and back to english for the lyrics
the beat picks up and the lone trumpeter kicks in
note perfect production and a singalong chorus
in the city of night, leave the troubles of day behind
and dream a new dream tonight
ooooooh-ahhhhhh, repeat, repeat, repeat
ojala
the boys in the band get a chance to flex their vocal chords
and china steps back to become the backup singer
another spanish number with more trumpet and piano backing
maybe the lyrics are profound or something but overall quite average
bukra wba'do
now we're off to eastern europe for a shot at acceptance there
the vocals are delivered in some unrecognisable language
and the style of the music suggests some connection to that part of the world
maybe it's an old traditional song interpreted and updated by the band
but i suspect it's another case of trying to prove how versatile they are
cante e dance
acoustic guitar, maraccas, boy/girl vocal harmonies (spanish)
very summery kind of cruisey tune where the guitar takes centre stage
nice production work but by and large kind of forgettable
though again it may be quite profound lyrically
hey eugene
why am i thinking of the friends sit-com?
possibly the happy go-lucky we're here for a good time not a long time lyrics
or possibly because the lyrics are so crass they could be something phoebe would knock out
but actually i think it's the new york feel to it - um, later day new york that is
i.e. something that would get a big push on the david letterman show
and you would imagine paul schaeffer and co hooking into big time
syracuse
uh-oh again - new we're going all french chic
slow, slow number with all the right instruments
harp, lone trumpet, piano, tabler type percussion
and china being all sad and sentimental and zzzzzzz.....sleepy
dosvedanya mio bombino
picking up the pace and back to english lyrics
a long and endless balcony above the adriatic sea
i tried to storm the kremlin of your heart
in florence we were on the mend but that mazurka had to end
we missed the naked trees of gorky park
ouch - and all set to a military kind of rhythm - and wait for it
finishing with val-de-ri, val-de-ra and a knapsack on my back
tea for two
the final song and china lead in accompanied by a piano
she really does have a lovely voice
then a new much older voice is introduced
and we're back where we started - 50's american movie singalong thing

well that's it - heard it, absorbed it, studied it, criticised it
....shelved it