Lopez Blogs

Rochella Danishei ~ End Of The Rainbow:


Out of the ashes of the still mourned girl group Candy Coated Chaos rises a phoenix from the flames. A new female ambassador, flying the pop flag for unapolgetically raw and honest music that comes with a dark disco beat and a truly biting lyrical edge. Rochella's End of the Rainbow sets out it's statement with a spoken intro track, reminiscent of when Janet Jackson ruled the world with her Rhythm Nation 1814, promising a world where bluebirds don't fly, just a disco ball spins high in the sky. Buckle those seatbelts kiddies, because we certainly ain't in Kansas anymore...

Guided ably by musical maestro Jadion (Candy Coated Chaos, Simon Curtis), End of the Rainbow kicks off with a couple of startling addictive pop tunes that instantly reel you into the world of Rochella. Drunk Txt is like a decade later, female remake of Backstreet Boys' The Call. Intro-ing with appropriate sound effects, a heavily synth driven verse structure sets a more sombre musical scene where Ro is out with her girls but is missing her man. What's particularly clever here is how the verses place Ro into a world where she clearly doesn't exactly want to be and the chorus transforms into a bouncy chant a long epic where she's happily/guiltily drunk texting and sexting her fella. The music matches this perfectly and it's a deliriously relatable song with one of the poppiest choruses you'll here in 2011. This is followed by Never Been Kissed. A swirling, romantic, sparkling tune that is truly evocative of that giddy feeling you get when you find that instant connection with someone. Remember all those dizzying tunes when Britney, Christina, Mandy, Jessica et al emerged from the woodwork about 10-12 years ago? It's reminiscent of those classic pop tunes, yet with a totally modern throbbing beat pulsating throughout. This is going to sound absolutely epic on the radio...

The brightness of these opening numbers is soon shadowed by a more sombre look at the world. The lyrical bite kicks in and while the tunes are still uniformly excellent, there's a darker work of art in progress. Blackout is the appropriately titled track that starts this off. The Russian spoken intro is strangely enticing and the relentless beat feels like some sordid climaxing one night stand presented in musical dirty treat. I'm OK on the surface seems like one of those declaration of independence albums but scratch a little deeper and there's a little bit of vulnerability. Some wonderfully and possibly filthy bonmots such as "I feel you watching me/i know you wanna eat/come into mama's kitchen/i'll fix you up a treat" and a pleasing reference to Single Ladies make this a pop cultural treat and have you rooting for Rochella when she reaffirms that she's gonna be ok. Unlove Pill slows things down a little and is a haunting, stark, painful synth-ballad with some brutally raw lyrics. The music here is a repetitive synth riff with minimal effects other than a beautifully delivered vocal - and here is a good time to point out that Ms Danishei has a rather lovely voice. She knows when to let loose, when to be more restrained and when to pour emotion on a track without it seeming treacly and OTT. Similarly, she works her voice round the music and vice versa in an era when people can get too lost in autotune and vocoder madness. It's a treat to listen to, particularly when she turns her hand to different genres...

It's no surprise that Michelle is one of my favourite tracks on the album. Not only is an aggressively, posturing rock-esque track but it features one of my fave male singers ever in Mr Simon Curtis. The track works equally well on Rochella's album as it would on Simons - someone who knows a thing or two about vengeful pop. It's like a superbly remixed Garbage track - fuzzy synth guitar effects, unforgiving beat that matches the truly vengeful lyrics. The vocal playoff and tradeoff works exquisitely and you're drawn into a world that's like a musical Inception - it turns you on your head, takes unexpected turns and is a truly intoxicating experience. Play back to back with Simon's other Rochella collaboration Brainwash (from 8 Bit Heart) and it's a musical nirvana of the darkest variety. Gotta feel almost sorry for Michelle though. Not only does her name rhyme with hell (I guess "Claaaaaarrre you stripped my feelings bare" didn't have the same ring to it :P) but she has some serious wrath coming her way. Stunning.

The rest of the album continues with a bowl of pop treats for you to get stuck into Ur Fucking Crazy may have a title that will make your grandma blush (not mine, she had a right potty mouth) but has a bouncy beat and some truly amusing lyrics about an ill fated relationship - and as Mel points out, some of the cleverest lyrics you'll hear this year ("I would say I'll see you later/If you hadn't tattooed your name on my derriere"). It's laden with attitude and a delightful call out to some of those mistaken relationships we've all come across in our lives. Baby Doll seems to be the anthemic call of the album - Simon has his robots, Gaga has her monsters, Rochella has her dolls. It's got a rather brilliant instrumental behind it all with some quirky sound effects and a positively singalong chorus that will have people chanting this coming of age saga for years to come. The title track samples Judy Garland and tramples over the dreams of a pot of gold at the rainbow. What you do get instead is a dark, vibrating beat and a scintillating chorus that shows sometimes dreams don't come true, hard work doesn't always pay off but we'll always have some great music to dance to - and this is the message thealbum concludes with; Prey To The Beat (great title) suitably rounds everything up full circle and gives her listeners a ray of light penetrating through the rainbow world she's created.

An incredible debut album and one that really deserves a huge amount of viral success in 2011. I've seen the end of the rainbow and it is Rochella.
Potential singles: Drunk Txt; Never Been Kissed; Michelle; I'm Ok; Baby Doll

Andrea Lewis ~ 54321:


Released in late 2010, I shamefully didn't get around to reviewing this although I was clearly smitten with the Simon Curtis duet Talk To Me as it topped my charts for several weeks and was one of my top songs of the year. The album, however, deserves some time spent with it as it is a delightful piece of work that skilfully blends genres, influences and tempos into a cohesive, enjoyable piece of work. Andrea kicks off the album with a tempered, orchestral invitation to her listeners to join her on the journey, to fly with her, to become heroes. It's a heady mix of allure and aspiration that kicks off the album in style. And then something even more amazing happens that deserves it's own countdown to it...

Voodoo may be one of the best pop tracks you haven't yet heard. A blistering, scintillating r'n'b driven track, heavy with a swirling handclap beat and a soaring chorus that is just off kilter enough to keep you on edge but slick enough to have you dancing along - breathless, giddy with anticipation for whatever is going to come next. It's brimming with energy, delivered with a truly enthusiastic vocal and makes you thankful that pop like this still exists. It's pop, it's orchestra, it's magic, it's pure vocal. Something that Alesha Dixon wishes she'd come back with and could rule the pop charts here for several weeks. Oh, and that incredible note from 2m30s? Spine chilling (and do check out a rather brilliant dance remix by Jadion on Andrea's site. Amazing)... There's time to catch your breath on the elegant She. It's disguised musically as a dreamy romantic ballad, but as with the most inventive pop nowadays there's a twist in the lyrics as Andrea balances being in an unevenly numbered relationship with the protaganist of the title. There's a wonderful semi-rap in the middle 8 that leads into a pleading, almost angry delivery of the final choruses where Andrea states her case to a militant beat. It reminds me of the tracks by Pebbles and Karyn White in the early 90s, that quiet storm remix of a track that is completely open and exudes charm because of this.

Robot starts off with a vocodered spoken intro before a powerful vocal kicks in over a sparse synth and strictly timed beat. Mix into that some well timed sound effects and the feel of a motown influence and the cold, unfeeling Dexter that she seems to be dating would have to have a heart of ice not to be thawed by this warm, engaging tune. There seems to be a theme of sadness, regret and letdown on Andrea's album and her pain is sadly our gain. Take Rain Drops - it's the juxtaposition of a mid-tempo tune where the beat bounces along and Andrea taking something as cliched as raindrops as metaphor for heartbreak and making it sound fresh. There's a rapped middle 8 where we get the male perspective - it's a neat trick that will work to truly devastating effect later in the album. The next track is necessary to show that Andrea is moving through her negative experiences - Conquerers is an anthem in waiting; verses on par musically with Paparazzi and All Night Long (Alexandra) and a skybound chorus that really showcases the power and versatility of Andreas impressive vocals. It's a midway point of hope, optimism and determination.

I've written extensively about Talk To Me in the past. I'll try and recap with new words. Simply put, I think it's one of the most beautiful, soulful, heartwrenching break up ballads I've ever heard. It's a living breathing work of art, built around a shuffling motown beat, finger clicks and a simple but lovely piano chord construction. The lyrics detail Andrea pondering the breakdown of a relationship and how it could've been better with communication. Lovely backing vocals in the chorus add to it's timeless appeal. The kicker here is a guest vocal in the middle 8 by Simon Curtis. It's the male response and paints the other side of the story to completely devastating effect. The vocals weave together as an emotional deconstruction takes place. The song ends with some sort of acceptance but the crushing knowledge that this is one relationship that will be mourned on one side at least for some time to come. It's an entire weepie of a movie in one song and a simply outstanding tune.

Linda comes across as an almost industrial tune - the instrumental and production are almost reminiscent of Depeche Mode circa Personal Jesus/Enjoy The Silence. It all works surprisingly well with Andrea's vocal. It's a slightly hazy affair, the swirling repeated vocals creating the effect that love/rage can bring where your mind goes a little bit crazy... It's all rounded off nicely with Fool of Me which starts with delicate piano play that becomes more and more ominous as additional sound effects, instruments and layered vocals are added. Musically it brings it full circle from the scintillating Voodoo and Andrea taking a stand against the errant lovers who have wronged her. There is also an outro with some Soul II Soul and Janet Jackson mixed in there and finishes off a fine, emotive, soulful album. A lovely piece of work that will hopefully bring Andrea's music to a much wider audience... Potential singles: Voodoo; Talk To Me; She; Robots; Conquerers

Revisiting Simon Curtis & His 8 Bit Heart:


One year ago, Simon unleashed his debut album (review here) onto twitter after reaching a certain number of followers (I think it was 8000?) and created something of a viral monster. Fans were soon clamouring for his brand of smartly constructed pop and the blog world imploded with kudos and an unprecedented devotion to an unsigned act. One year on, the album remains an essential example of how a concept album can produce many wonderful standalone moments, yet still work as a cohesive piece of work. So littered is it with sci-fi and pop culture references both in the lyrics and the production (note the lengths of the songs all end in a zero or five) that repeat visits remain necessary to discover all the hidden wonders that abound. New things intruige - for example, the number 7. On both Rochella and Andrea's albums, these are the songs that Simon duets on, yet on 8 Bit Heart it's an interlude, a phone conversation. Hidden meaning by design or merely coincidence (also is that Simon masked on Rochella's album cover?!)?

Diablo remains my favourite song on here, a sprawling tune that I still believe could be the male Bad Romance and would love to see a high concept, high budget video for. 8 Bit Heart remains a sweet diversion from Simon's sometimes vengeful, sometimes bleak world view - a tune that sounds like Lamont and Dozier were in the studio with him. It's completely endearing and can be interpreted in so many ways. I often thought it could be the anthem for the NoH8 campaign. New favourites emerge all the time - Brainwash is captivating all over again, while Joystick is a saucy romp that I can't wait to get to.

Anticipation remains high for a new album. Laser Guns Up has been premiered at live shows, surely more will follow at his LA gig on the 9th Jan. Here's hoping that Simon can translate the online hype into something that earns him the money he needs to translate his vision and bring it to the fanbase he's spent so long cultivating...