Calvin Harris, Albert, Disco and Nappies

Calvin Harris - I Created Disco (Sony)

There have been mumblings in the dance community: 'Who is this cheeky chap that makes dance music but embraces pop culture?', 'Anthony and Cleopatra! He has gone top ten, lets hate him and act like Mylo is better.'

Mylo destroyed rock and roll, Calvin Harris created Disco.

This album is strong but Calvin has left himself room for improvement. 'Merrymaking', 'Acceptable in the 80's', 'Electo Man', 'Disco Heat' and 'The Girls' are the obvious high points. He is not able to maintain the thrill for the entire 55 minutes but the album is certainly full of hustle. Its FunBongo's favourite dance album of the year.

8.2 out of 11

Half Year Bingo Bango Dance Party Time Chart

1.Calvin Harris - Its fun and addictive
2. Justice - Occasionally special but generally too cool for skool, not enough knowledge for college.
3. Groove Armada - 4 or 5 great tracks but lacks coherence as an album.
4. LCD Soundsystem - The odd seminal moment but James Murphy takes himself far too seriously to be worth the long, dull passages.

Woo! Calvin wins!!!

Albert Hoxton: This should have been on the album Calvin Harris - Love For You (iTunes)

Order Calvin's album here

Justice Vs Maroon 5, Siobhan and Rihanna

Justice - † (Ed Banger Records)



To say this album sounds like Daft Punk is not quite accurate; it sounds more Thomas Bangalter's solo work ('Outrage' in particular). Apart from borrowing all the Daft Punk kit Gaspard and Xavier brought along the signature Justice sounds, a chalk-board, a set of nails and a fox screaming in pain. The boys have some great moments, D.A.N.C.E is a brilliant slice of infectious, uplifting disco. 'DVNO' will get a lot of butts on the dance-floor and the last minute of 'Let There Be Light' is beautiful.

Sadly the album is full of songs that are almost really good but fall at the last hurdle. 'New Jack' almost satisfies but after a short time falls into classic Justice territory... 'the grate zone'. The same can be said for 'Phantom PT 1'and 'Valentine'. 'Phantom PT 2' and 'Genesis' also offer great promise but are somewhat butchered by Justice's blunt overkill production tastes. The 'Party' features the one trick pony, Uffie. Uffie only has one 'flow' and her boring delivery becomes stagnant after 25 seconds.

Certainly quite a enjoyable album in places but no Daft Punk replacement; ignore the ridiculous beatz and buzz.

7 out of 11

Albert Hoxton: Calvin Calvin Calvin Calvin please.

Justice - Let There Be Light (iTunes)

Siobhan Donaghy - Ghosts (Parlophone)



Siobhan is difficult to write but a delight to listen to. The Sugababe back-catalog is hardly busting with consistent merit but its gingerly departed co-founder Siobhan Donaghy has delivered a collection of songs as stunning as her beauty. Siobhan has concentrated on making an album full of honesty, rather than hits. The production of the LP is cloaked in atmosphere, captured most evidently by the back-to-front vocals of the title track 'Ghosts'. "Medavac' finds Siobhan in full Kate Bush 'Wuthering Heights' mode; its one of the songs of the year so far. We like Mutya but she wont top this...

10.6 out of 11

Albert Hoxton: I wanna have your babies


Siobhan - Ghost Album Sample (iTunes)

Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long (Universal)



Maroon 5 are set to cement their position as one of the world's biggest acts, they are also destined to remain one of the most hated. There is always a backlash against bands that make heavily commercial albums. In Maroon 5's defence they have never been ashamed of their pop sensibilities. They have always used the most cliched, and harmonious chords; perfect for daytime radio and dinner parties.

Adam Levine and and the boys spoke of the album being their raciest to date, I assume they are referring to the semi-funky bridges in the global monster "Makes Me Wonder' and 'If I Never See Your Face Again'. This album, unsurprisingly, lacks imagination. Levine re-uses his own vocals from Kanye West's 'Heard 'em Say' on 'Nothing Last Forever', surely a verse from Kanye would have broken up the monotonous tone of the album a little?

Despite the album being totally predictable it is still a decent pop effort. If you don't like Maroon 5 I suggest you don't listen to the radio for the next 18 months...

6.8 out of 11.
Albert Hoxton: Why the chop did Sony let Universal snare Maroon 5?

Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder (iTunes)



Rihanna 'Good Girl Gone Bad' (Def Jam)



Interesting album title... 'Bad Girl Gone Good' would have made more sense. 3 albums in 18 months, that Jay-Z fella certainly is a slave driver. This is Rihanna's first album of any note. It is by no means a fantastic but they seemed to have worked it to Rihanna's strengths, her dancing. Second single 'Shut up and drive' rocks a la P!nk/Kelly Clarkson and Ne-Yo provides a ballad that will be stuck on American radio for months. Rihanna shines the brightest when she avoids the mid-tempo type of slush that ruined the Amerie album. The Justin Timberlake penned 'Rehab' seems unspectacular at first but grows with every listen.

6.9 out of 11

Rihanna - Umbrella Ft Jay-Z

April Filthy Few Ft DJ Funbongo Live

Back once again for the Renegade Master. Yes The DJ Funbongo show returned with some bands. It was, of course, the mighty Filthy Few Live in Hoxton.

Albert popped his collar so hard that the bone came out and we had ram it back in. There were high-fives a plenty and free marmite all night behind the bar. Firas obviously drank vodka and gravy with an umbrella (an obvious tribute to the new Rhianna/Jay-Z track). The girls went. Yes, they all went after Albert's Rudebox fell out his trooooooousers (that's Scottish).

DJ Funbongo Setlist


Jaguar Skills - Wogan Theme
Amy Winehouse - Rehab DED Mix
Justice - D.A.N.C.E
Calvin Harris - Rock Band
Joss Stone - Tell me 'bout it
Blur - Charmless Man
LL Cool J - Lougin'
Calvin Harris - Love For You





What? we didn't intend to play two CH songs but a girl asked for it so...

Don't remember what else. The set had to stopped early for autograph signing.

Christian K played another high callibre eclectic magical set. Big Boss Firas, who has gone AWOL, played Renegade Master and two other Calvin Harris songs that FunBongo didn't play. No-one has seen Firas since.

He did mention (in an erry camp voice) the words Pakistan, and training.

Someone said they saw him outside Daniel Radcliffe's changing room but that's unconfirmed.

There are also conspiracy theories abound that Albert kidnapped him to allow the release of Funbongo's Britney Spears CD collection at Filthy Few nights. Who knows...




Hearts of Black Sceince


Funbongo: Well, ummm. The beef burger I ate for din dins was really good, it had a lot of hustle (and some chips too).

Albert: Yeah yeah The Hearts of Black Sceince, them dudes, errr yeah. I just need to return some video tapes.

Firas: Im AWOL




The Downfall of Paris

Funbongo: OK. Soma likes them.

Albert: Not as good as Jamiroquai.

Firas: geeeeeeeeeeehad, Albert untie me now!!!




Middleman

Funbongo: Up to their tip top standard. A live treat indeed.

Albert: Bravo to them, it was sad their set got cut short. Would have liked to have heard a cover of Elton John Rocket Man.

Firas: I'll be back.



Download Filthy Few Podcast please thank you - its free with lots of good music.

The next one is: 10th May @ Bar Music Hall in Shoreditch

Middleman Myspace

Downfall of Paris Myspace

Hearts of Black Science Myspace

Calvin Harris Live

Calvin Harris was/is superb. What he lacks in vocal ability he makes up for in production value. He is more like Les Rythmes Digitales than Daft Punk. More Whitney than Bobby. More Kate (according to NME she was there, she didn't make herself known to me so I don't believe it) then Peter. More Scarlett than Cameron. More Diddy than Puff.

The 'club' night was hosted by that Danny from Embrace. I think they were some Brit-Nu-Indie band that had a couple of hits during the 50's. They might have penned the Blue Peter theme tune.

We saw Sadie Frost in the pub before. She gave us the cold shoulder.

Albert was there after finishing his stint in rehab, he was addicted to Rudebox and thought it was the best way to meet Robbie Williams. It worked and they are now snooker chums. Starting today, Bert has given up water for Lent. He knows its early but he wants to get a head start on everyone.



He looks like Duncan Loser from Blue here



Showing off the famous Digit Dance


Rock Band

You can't see me


Myspace

That slap was more painful then anticipated; must try not to show your injured.



All Saints - Rock Steady (Calvin Harris Remix)

Is that the ghost of Top Of The Pops in the corner?