Play 90 second soundbite of 'Big Ones ( a true story)' @ 'CD quality'
Yes, it was well worth waiting for; 'Chat!' is everything I expected it to be and more! As I listen I can't help but feel that Toupe have matured somewhat since the days of 'Burgers'; 'Chat!' just seems more together, better rounded, focussed and honed. Possibly not an album that you'd want your parents to hear too much of, 'Chat!' is quite 'close to the mark' in several places - but hey, what d'ya expect - this is Toupe for Christ's sake. Toupe don't pull punches, they tell it like it is - uncut and in the 'flesh'. Once more Toupe have cottoned onto a theme and gone about their business in true Toupe style and no holds barred.
Based, almost uniquely, around two bass guitar leads, drums and a few keys, Toupe thump and pump out a magical, eclectic mix that sits somewhere between The Mothers Of Invention and Ian Dury & The Blockheads. The lyrics are hard but true, lyrics from the street - humorous, dark, cutting, lewd and perhaps, at times, offensive. The music is exciting - funked-up jazzy undertones, sometimes oddly discordant, sometimes truly inspirational - amazing. 'Chat!' is Toupe as I remember them to be; fresh, original, spicy to the point of being scorchin' hot, a joy to behold!
Toupe are Karl Evans (bass and backing vocals), Jason Havelock (drums and backing vocals) and Grant Sharkey (BEGC bass, piano and vocals); (why couldn't I have been given a great rock'n'roll name like Grant Sharkey?) together these dudes make such a fantastic 'noise', they write with unbridled reality and grit. Sharkey puts in some impressive piano work on 'Chat!' and it's inclusion adds another dimension to their sound.
As I listen and write there's a bloody big smile all over my face - Toupe do that, they bring a bit of off-the-wall (in)sanity to the often wooden and dull music scene - they lift you up and never let you down. Theirs is an altogether different take on contemporary music - one that gets the job done with unashamed honesty, to the point and right on the money. Toupe put some fun back into serious rock music. Toupe's way is infectious and enlightening. Toupe cross boundaries that most outfits don't even realise are there!
'Chat!' by Toupe is undeniably brash but absolutely amazing - top entertainment - a must for the collection of anyone that wants to go that bit further - unputdownable!!
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