PLAYTIME

The Chiz reviews Playtime 

Playtime has been reviewed by  the very hip, cool and exquisite music mad mind of Dave Chislett  ( above) who is a journalist, music promoter , 5 FM and SA FM correspondent and columnist for The Mail and Guardian, FHM, Stage Magazine and SL magazine". On top of this he has had 3 books published ( click above to see details ) and of course he is also the extremely fortunate, happy and overjoyed resident reviewer for Matchbox Recordings. ( That's cos we feed him rare Italian truffles and champagne- ed ). These reviews are not in tracklisting order see down below ( sounds good-ed ) for the exact tracklisting. 

Irish lads THE COLOURS know exactly how to write inspiring, dreamy and catchy modern pop songs that stay with you forever. Lovely - Matchbox A&R. 

The Colours – Piano Song

Craig Ward above  

A Sad Song – Craig ward

Englishman Craig Ward seems to take a good deal of his influence from American rock, blending it seamlessly with a British Ska guitar sound to come up with a unique sound. Sad Song is an emotional rollercoaster, from its dreamy Cure Like guitar into to its chunky ska breaks and even heavier bridges. The resulting wave of contrasts works very well: I certainly haven’t heard anything quite like it. Some of the chorus even ends up with a pleasingly anthemic tone: not bad for a Sad Song! The kids he may end up lecturing music technology to in Worcester will certainly get the real thing. ( This reminded us of a Flock of Seagulls on prozac that's not working...good noisy melancholy stuff - Matchbox A&R ) 

A Soviet genius ALEX GUITAR ( Above ) 

Alex Guitar – Cool It Down

Meshing Soul vocal melodies with eighties style metal guitar riffs, this is an outrageously unexpected melting pot of styles. Alex hails from the former Soviet Union where he honed his skills as a guitarist, song writer and vocalist. Perhaps it is this distance from the contemporary music scene that allows him to blend styles in this completely new way, perhaps he’s just a genius. The sounds sit strangely together, yet there is an undeniable catchiness that will have you listening up for more…A little bit like you would to Rappers Delight if you are old enough to remember that! http://www.alexguitar.bravehost.com

Plotting their next atom smashing release the USA's hottest newcomers ATOMSMASHER. 

Atomsmasher – Always Right

This New York outfit has succeeded where most American bands fail in sounding just like a British Indie pop outfit. It’s in the vocals more than anything else. Always right sounds a bit like the Inspiral Carpets might after a stiff course of steroids to their guitars, yet somehow retains a whimsical, inoffensive air which is very British. Fronted up by singer, songwriter and guitarist Ed Marshall, Atomsmasher pull on a diverse range of guitar fuelled pop artist to bring this sound across, and its fair to say that they don’t sound like any one of them in particular, which can only be a good thing. www.atomsmasher.com

Scotland's well dressed FLUID B.C above 

Fluid BC – Time Again

If most of today’s pop stars are way too young to anything other than implanted memories of the summer love, then Fluid BC must have read about it in history books. Yet this is what they capture in their hippy-esque dreaminess and floating melodies. This Scottish outfit claim their influences from Buddy Holly and REM, but I reckon they go further back into the mists of time than that to the mamma’s and The Papa's, Canned Heat and the like. All of which makes Time Again an extremely accessible, dreamy little pop song that you kind of wish would go on for just a little bit longer.

Gordon Rankin - Set to hit the U.K charts in 2005 after working with Kylie pop makers. 

Gordon Rankin – Every Day is Another Door

Solo Artist Gordon Rankin hails from the UK but has been garnering quite some acclaim in the USA. This track has already charted on what they call the Sideload Charts, a chart based on the songs Radio stations ad into their schedule over and above the formatted songs. He has also worked with Kylie Minogue producers Bruce Elliot-Smith and Phil Larsen. “Every Day Is Another Door” is a slow, introspective song driven by acoustic guitar, bass and drums. Very gently, but very listenable. With a voice that reminds some times of The The, the combination is effective and direct.

The Heartfelt MARIO PADOVANI with a voice that literally touches the soul and puts a lump in your throat.  

Mario Padovani – It Would Be So Easy

This is a soulful, romantic balladeer. Mario sings of love and matters of the heart. He possesses a rich baritone voice, full of texture and emotion. This he combines with a strings rich orchestration reminiscent of the anthems of Bonnie Tyler and Tina Turner. The keyboard bass in the background slays me a bit, but the overall result is one of a slickly produced, heartfelt song. It certainly is an excellent example of a love ballad, delivered with conviction and power. www.mariopadovani.com

JAYSON NORRIS - This man writes songs that stick in your head when you brush your teeth, have your lunch, eat your dinner, have a snack, go to the toilet and go to bed at night. Then it all starts over again like groundhog day...........na na na na na na ......brilliant light pop....the new Karma Chameleon - Matchbox A&R. 

  Jayson Norris – Aeroplanes

New Zealander Jason Norris weighs in from down under with a whimsical, nostalgic number, resplendent with mouth organ and pacific roots folk guitar work. This is one of those curious, light songs that just seem perfect played late at night while you finish your last drink and head off into the dawn. Dreamy, but not superficial, subtle yet powerful. This kind of thing could grow on you if you didn’t watch out. Jason has done pretty well in New Zealand, with appearance on national Television and radio, and is looking to branch out into the global market. He certainly seems to have the skills required, so look out. www.jaysonnorris.com

The dreamy and mesmerising JUST above. NME - "Radiohead with a bit of Talk Talk thrown in for good measure". 

  Just – As Monday Comes

This family unit of Matt, Olly and Richie hail from Norwich in the UK. They sound like a terminally depressed lot, which if some of the most successful music of the eighties is anything to go by, can only be a good thing. Another act that showcases a really, really strong vocalist and actual singing, Just are part of an emerging trend in pop and rock. As Monday Comes is pretty dark, but very powerful. And while at times vocalist Richie sound a little too much like Talk Talk, he can be forgiven for the overwhelming power and emotion he brings to the deal. Nice, but stay away from the razors in the bathroom. http://www.matchboxrecordings.co.uk/artists/just.htm

Up and coming Melodic acoustic duo AKA above  

AKA – Butterflies (and) Let Your Love

Hey! A female vocalist! Been a bit thin on the ground in this compilation. I like this one because she really doesn’t sound like a cheap copy of (insert current so called diva’s name). Butterflies is a nice romantic baldly number driven on by a relentless acoustic guitar and some male harmonies. Simple, direct, powerful. The way these kinds of things should be. Vocalist Kym Allen has a great set of lungs, and knows how to use them. On “Let your Love” a full band is involved and the track is a slower, more considered proposition altogether. Once again, the vocals of Kym remain the focal point of the music. It’s good stuff. Not very wild or mad, but very skillful and quite haunting. You know the kind of thing your mum might actually let you play on Sundays in the lounge… http://www.aka-music.co.uk 

Party loving whiskey swigging Rock n' roll action from THE KITES pictured live in action above 

The Kites – It Ain’t Love

The Kites describe themselves, accurately I might add, as a 70’s-esque rock band with tinges of indie. Truth of the matter is that this is pretty basic low down and greasy pub rock and it tastes as good now as it did in the 70’s. There’s a smattering of glam, some bad radio rock, some cock rock vocals and some truly cheesy keyboards for effect. Hmm, good stuff! No seriously, it works! I would love to hear the rest of the album this song comes off, just to hear what else they get up to. Not to be taken too seriously, but worth the listen. www.thekites.co.uk

The extremely fun, witty, mad as hell, rock n' roll and ska-like THE SLOANES above getting ready to kick the sh*t out of Goldie Looking Chain ( Who's that ? - Ed )

The Sloanes – When in Rome

There is little other way to describe the Sloane’s sound other than as classic British pop. Whimsical, meandering, light. The horns ad some nice touches, but not quite enough one feels, to lift them up to prominence. Nice enough song, but it never really gets anywhere. However, for those with radio friendly ears, this is exactly the kind of tune you’d enjoy hearing next summer while quaffing a pint next to a river. www.thesloanes.com 

Eccentric, zany, dreamy, lo-fi 80's esq pop troubadour Berny from Z CAR M above. His wife Che contributes vocals to this top track also. Long live the synth pop 80's. 

Z Car M – Charisma of Love

Remember Heaven 17? Well, this is quite a bit like them without the quaffs. Also slightly darker in lyrical content. Electronic pop based on the eighties template, seemingly blended digital and analogue synth effects into an intriguingly lo-fi sound for a predominantly electronic band. This is pretty interesting stuff, although one feels that they aren’t going to storm the charts just yet, they will certainly cause a stir. There is something else in there that is hauntingly familiar, and this could well be the hook that sucks you in. This band doesn’t seem to rely on melodic hooks or riffs, but they’ll catch your ear anyway. http://www.zcarm.150m.com 

Regan – Un-Noticed

London based 60's esq poppy underground guitar pop genius NATHAN PERSAD ...above in agony before cleaning up his act. 

  Nathan Persad – Clean Up My Act

Reading this mans biog one is left wondering where exactly the truth starts and where it ends. Suffice to say that Nathan plays a quirky brand of pop music most closely related to Pulp, without the serious bits. Nathan was born in Streatham, but now lives in Greenwich Village (London!) and is working on recording his third album. If its kind of odd, but pretty happy pop music you are looking for, Nathan is you r man. And if you like your personal history bizarre and amusing, then you’re in for a treat! http://www.nathanpersad.com

The rocking Plastescene tear the stage apart above 

Plastescene – State of Rapture

A three piece rock outfit from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire Plastescene reckon they are a heavily Grunge influenced rock outfit. Once again, I feel their influences are far older than that, going back to Siouxie Sioux, New York punk and Iggy pop. The sound is very raw, almost garage band like, but the vocals powerful, crisp and clear. Grunge wishes it had that much clarity. Sam, Francis and Ben have an EP out and the band has been around for a couple of years, honing their sound. Their stripped, punk inspired wall of guitar blends well with clearly delivered vocals to provide a listenable buy distinctly rough sound. I like it.

The very cool RADAR trying to think up ways of putting their record back together again. 

  Radar – Broken Record

Leicester based Radar sound great. Some spacey guitar reminiscent of the best of the Bauhaus, with some straight and powerful vocals combine to make for an aural delight. Their influences may be obvious in a way, but where they go with them is not. This is not some straight up eighties alternative rip off. The sound is bigger, fatter, and the vocals are strictly 21^st century. “Broken record” is also nicely weighted… neither carrying on long enough to become boring or being too short to be frustrating. Look out for more songs by this lot, if they are half as good as this one, we’re all in for a treat. www.radar.moonfruit.com 

  Red Slopes – Black Song Two

Liverpudlians red Slopes seem to be that rare breed of animal, the rock band that is completely capable of carrying off a slow, powerful song without sounding contrived or just plain bad. Nice harmonies in this one, meeting with light, delicately picked guitar. The counterpoint is provided by washy, droning bass recessed nicely in the sound. This is pretty cunning orchestration, deceptive in its simplicity. It sounds like the three years they have spent since formation in 2001 is coming nicely to fruition. It is a five piece band consisting of Owen (Guitar,synth), Phil (Drums), Kev (Guitar, vocals, synth), Paul (Bass, vocals) and Craig Jamieson (guitar, vocals, synth). The finishing touch is definitely provided by the understated, rising tones coming from those synths. Nice, very nice.

Chaotic and rhythmic pop/rock troubadour Sean Malloy a.k.a CRITTER above.

Critter - Overjoyed 

Irish singer/songwriter has done the rounds. Once with the band The Pale, and previously backing French chanteuse Caroline Moreau, he’s back out on his own now. “Overjoyed” is a simple, slightly jerky number that you’ll definitely listen to twice. It’s the simplicity that does it, hooks you in and makes you pay attention. But it is a surface simplicity as there is nothing simple about what the man is saying.  Here he has recorded as a three piece, comprising jazz drummer Philip McMullen and bass player Dara Dennis. The use of add rhythmic structures, accessible melodies and less than normal lyrics makes this a project to be watched, and listened to whenever possible.

The melodic Indie rock heroes SWEET BLACK ANGELS above. ( Yes....they did climb those trees after this photo shoot I know I was there -ed )   

  Sweet Black Angels – I know What You're thinking 

Sweet Black Angels bring a lighthearted vibe to their rock, tinged as it is with some class heavy work. A definite Guns n Roses feel to that lead guitar work, and yet such an English vocal style. You can see why they might choose to call themselves a more muscular oasis or the Stereophonics. But they have a while to go to really compete with the big boys. As a start this is great. Nice melodies, good use of harmony and I really do like the guitar work… its nice detail over what might otherwise have become monotonous. This track has feel good summer vibe written all over it, which might just lift some of your current rainy winter gloom!

THE CHEVRONS blasting out a lovely bluesy blast of rock live on SKY TV. 

  The Chevrons – Somebody Help Me

This is straight up Rockabilly style stuff.. no frills, no airs and no graces. Right down to the 12 bar bass lines, jangly guitars and “big room” style recording. It is very well executed and will without doubt set dance floors alight.  Which is probably what these London based lads had in mind from the start. They are not going to win any prizes for originality though, as by definition, every lick, riff, quaff and sneer has been lifted from a long tradition. If they want to carve their own niche from this genre, they’ll need to pull a Cramps maneuver and add something bizarre of their own. www.thechevrons.com