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CHEESE ~ ENLARGE YOUR JOHNSON
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Reviewed in Uncut by Rob Hughes, UK
Reviewed in Classic Rock by Sian Llewellyn, UK
Reviewed at Swiss Records by Robert Pally, SWITZERLAND
I find it unbelievable that songs so radio friendly, and beautifully crafted haven't found their way onto national radio, or the band haven't been approached by some megabucks major label? Either way, it's damn good that labels like PH have the faith. Anyways, like I say, don't go expecting cutting edge rock and/or off-world experiments, good old fashioned music with a real warmth and charm. Superb stuff. Reviewed in Modern Dance by Dave W Hughes, UK
Reviewed at Night Times by Rob Forbes, UK
Lines like "life looks good with second sight" are delivered over washes of organ and acoustic guitar, whilst the rhythm section attempt bossanova. 'Zero And Counting You Down' is both very different and just as good. Cut from the same mould as the faster moments of XTC, it unleashes a string of surprises in the verse to great effect and contains more of the sublime guitar work that made Let It Brie such a delight. These opening two tracks essentially show both sides of the band, and from hereon in we get more wonderfully crafted examples of the same quality, though with a slight bias towards ballads. 'Kid Gloves' employs fuzz guitar and heavy reverb, breaking into a surprise middle-8. 'Underworld' is a sinister and darkly humourous description of humanity's demise, whilst 'Sea Fret' drowns a doomed relationship in musical and lyrical metaphors. Meanwhile, 'Everyones On To You' is the addictive and vital single that should by rights have conquered the airwaves this summer. If any track were to stand out it is arguably 'Nothing To See', a song that astonishes on first listen and grows in stature with every repeat. Opening with a solo acoustic break, it initially equates a break up with a crime scene, before a typically ambitious melody winds through increasingly cryptic and poetic references to general despair. Devestatingly emotional, it feels epic in scope without requiring an overblown arrangement. If it's the lyrics that move you to tears, it is surely the strings that push you over the edge. Of the remaining tracks, it is worth mentioning in the interests of balance that 'Fallen From The Sun' drags a bit and that 'W', whilst typical of the catchy rockers CHEESE excel at, is strongly reminiscent in places of THE BEATLES 'No Reply'. Never mind - considering such gems as 'Wax Museum' and the hilarious lament to aging 'The Trail's Gone Cold' ("everything looks much the same today, it's just further away!"), I'm perfectly willing to continue lavishing superlatives on this band. CHEESE were a complete surprise when I originally discovered them - it is rare to find a band whose superb musicianship is matched by the quality of their songwriting, and it is even rarer to find one that can record and produce themselves to the level displayed here. They deserve to be more than a well kept secret, and have without a doubt produced one of the finest albums of the year. Reviewed in The Unpredictable Same by Martin White, UK
Reviewed at Russell's Reviews by Russell Barker, UK
Reviewed at High Bias by Michael Toland, USA
Although Enlarge Your Johnson is the bands debut album proper, it was actually preceded by the wittily titled Let It Brie in 2002, a collection of the bands demos recorded between 1994 and 1997. Failing to resist the temptation to further those obvious analogies, with Enlarge Your Johnson, CHEESE have delivered an album thats mature, sharp, full of bite and damned near irresistible. Lyrically intriguing, musically captivating and vocally spine-tingling, the rewards on offer here are abundant. No doubt recorded on a miniscule budget, the band admits that the album was "recorded entirely in our sheds and attics, very fitfully indeed" the results assuredly demonstrate its not how big, but what you do with it that counts. "Enlarge Your Johnson" indeed! If what youre seeking in an album is silky smooth harmonies, cascading guitars, inventive arrangements and tunes galore then youve definitely come to the right place. Admittedly, theyve taken their time - this isnt flat-packed self assembly pop, but quality craftsmanship and should rightly be lauded as such. Enlarge Your Johnson is a genuinely euphoric 24 carat pop gem that positively demands your time and investment - so what are you waiting for?! Geraint Jones Reviewed at Pennyblack Music by Geraint Jones, UK
That bands, ladies and gentlemen! It joins years 60, as BEATLES, BEACH BOYS, TRAFFIC and until the Brazilian SERGIO MENDES, it mixes influences of its followers as WORLD PARTY, adds an intelligent production, that values the timbres and done with much simplicity and you it will have one of the best launchings of 2005. Enlarge Your Johnson brings an ironic heading and a man with much talent for detras of them: Rossi Landmark. The record opens in 'Gurl Alone', with echoes of bossa new and Liverpool in a well well-taken care of production. 'Zero And Counting You Down' shows a beautiful use of vocal folded, battery incumbered assets and a beautiful climate. 'Underworld', the fourth band of the record shows a beautiful band elducorada for ropes arranged for Simon Swarbrick and if she had been launched for some more famous artist faltamente would touch even in the MTVs of the life. 'Nothing You The See' is a beautiful sad song and with a beautiful verse in the end: "And people still recycle pain/You to wear them out you uses again...". My favourite person or thing of the record is band 10, 'Fallen From The Sun', a pretty melody, with violoes, guitars, a battery and a beautiful arrangement of ropes. Perhaps the staff of the not concordant CHEESE with me, but I felt very of the melodies orchestration for KARL WALLINGER in the years of WORLD PARTY. Simply beautiful. The record closes with two other beautiful examples of the talent of the group: 'W' and 'Wax Museum'. Formed for Rossi Landmark (guitar, letters, low, battery, low percussion), Alan Strawbridge (low vocal), Rich Murphy (guitars) and Chris Page (battery and percussion), the record still counts on the support of Tone Hughes (keyboards) and Simon Swarbrick, the work was produced by Marco and Alan and shows a standard that many Brazilian bands could follow. A beautiful example of as prime pop still is not deceased... (Translated By Google) Reviewed at Mofo by Rubens Leme Da Costa, BRAZIL
Singer/guitarist/songwriter (and music reviews editor on the local paper, "Echo") Marco Rossi also lists such disparate influences as SYD BARRETT, THE ASSOCIATION, THE STOOGES, CAN, NICK DRAKE and CAPTAIN BEEFHEART, so you know hes either a certified nutter or has one hell of a record collection! A minute into 'Gurl Alone' youll be forgiven if you think you accidentally stuck on the latest from SEAN OHAGAN & Co. (although Rossi confesses to a LEFT BANKE influence on this one), such is the light, fluffy, almost orchestrated pop youll find within. Messrs. Difford and Tilbrook should be jealous that Rossi has "Squeezed" them out of their own comeback on 'Zero And Counting You Down', and sparkling, wall of STEELY DAN-isms settle into 'Kid Gloves' and make themselves right at home. Throughout, I was reminded of a poppier LUCKY BISHOPS, not surprising, seeing that guitarist Rich Murphy and bassist Al Strawbridge are moonlighting here, keyboardist Tom Hughes enlarges his own Hammond organ on five tracks, and Tom, Al and Bishop drummer Luke Adams are in Rossis other project, GOTHIC CHICKEN, which plays psychedelic cover versions of KINKS, ZOMBIES, ASSOCIATION and FOUR SEASONS tunes and is probably worthy of an album in their own right. The sunny bossa nova of 'Underworld' had me mentally packing bags and heading for the Mediterranean (Rossi freely cops to a certain SERGIO MENDES fixation and admits this one was "probably the result of too prolonged exposure to FRANCOISE HARDY and SERGE GAINSBOURG") and other highlights include the swirling, phased psychedelia (featuring a blistering guitar solo) of 'Nothing To See' (which occasionally sounds like a McCARTNEY solo track that wouldnt have been out of place on Abbey Road). The best TODD RUNDGREN outtake (ca. Something/Anything) youve never heard ('Everyones On To You' Rossi admits that he was "trying to conjure up something sunlit that crossed THE NAZZ with THE ASSOCIATION"), and 'Why Shes Not A Millionaire', which is so damn infectious (gorgeous harmonies, wall-of-sound production, phased drums and swirling guitars) that it may just be the years first great single (Rossi says he "set (the song) to the galumphing, baggy rhythm that fuelled 'Hole In My Shoe' by TRAFFIC"). Its releases like this that give new meaning to the phrases "light and airy, sugary, cotton candy fluff" and its the happiest, feel good album of the year thatll not only enlarge your Johnson, but is certain to put a smile on even the grumpiest misanthropes face. Reviewed in Foxy Digitalis by Jeff Penczak, USA
The former says it's the best pop album out of Britain since THE BEATLES and 10CC, and Stone Prem say it's "an absolute masterpiece, and we don't use that word lightly here. [...] Songwriting of this calibre belongs up there with the finest BEATLES tunes and that is no understatement". Some people have a tendency to scoff at claims that bands, especially underground bands who no-one's ever heard of, are as good as THE BEATLES, assuming the reviewer must be clueless. I would advise them that the above reviewers have a long history in music and know their stuff. Let It Brie was an impressive enough album, but Enlarge Your Johnson shows even more maturity and sophistication - and not in any bland sense either, the music is mature and sophisticated in a positive way. There's slight shades at times (and only at times) of THE BEACH BOYS and THE BEATLES' more adventurous material, but despite this CHEESE are DEFINITELY NOT a mere copyist band; they come across as a very talented band with their own original, individual ideas, and plenty of them. A very strong album of impressive pop music, highly recommended. Reviewed in Aquamarine by Kim Harten, UK
Reviewed in Ear Candy by Ronnie Dannelley, USA
Lord alone knows why CHEESE have been inexplicably tarred with the power-pop brush, as this is a collection of intelligent, heartfelt pop/rock songs more akin to prime Roddy Frame or Paddy McAloon (not surprising given Rossi's Caledonian heritage and membership of THE KEVIN McDERMOTT ORCHESTRA) than some Ricky-wielding COSTELLO or WELLER fan boys. That said, 'Zero And Counting You Down' and 'W' rock rather ferociously and compliment the impossibly pretty 'Sea Fret' and the heart-breaking 'Nothing To See' perfectly. Edam fine. Reviewed in Shindig by Andy Morten, UK
Four songs into the disc, this identity crystallizes on 'Underworld'. Lilting and lush music with a tinge of unease that befits the mildly disquieting lyrics. This is SERGIO MENDES spiked with a hint of psychedelia and a twist of JIMMY WEBB. Lead CHEESE-man Marco Rossi begins the song with a shimmery acoustic guitar playing a downbeat part. As the song moves on, strings come in and Rossi adds accents with tres-60s guitar fills. The middle eight leads to a pithy acoustic guitar solo. The song has a dreamy quality and instantly grabbed my attention. This is followed by 'Nothing To See". This is cut from the cloth of PAUL McCARTNEY, ANDY PARTRIDGE and likeminded writers. In listening to this song, I was struck by how there may be a finite number of note combinations, yet all it takes is finding the right one to trigger a pleasure spot in the brain. Here, the pleasing pop becomes sublime when Rossi conjures up a brief rise and fall melody when he sings the title phrase - yes, you'll have to hear it for yourself. But it's one of those moments pop fans live for. The song itself is a melancholy contemplation, about emptiness, pain and avoidance: "and people still recycle pain/you wear them out/to use again." There's also a fiery guitar solo that leads into a psychedelic string interlude. And after the final verse, the song heads out on more strings. It's quite something. Yes, these are layered pop songs. At their core, most of these are simple tunes that would sound swell with Rossi on his acoustic guitar. But these are built up so that they can sound as wonderful as possible. Not that everything is drenched in marzipan and frosted roses. One of the most compelling tracks is the spartan 'Sea Fret'. The song is a simple metaphor - a lost love is like a pearl that has fallen to the ocean floor. Rossi's strong acoustic guitar playing is augmented by guest Tom Hughes on Hammond Organ and CHEESEmate Alan Strawbridge adding some backing vocals. It is pretty and powerful. There are quite a few other top notch tunes. The closer 'Wax Museum' is another song with a hint of sea breeze and bossa nova cool. This song has two or three different hooks, one from the melody, one from a neat guitar fill by Rossi, and the rhythm of the refrain: "place your hands/where I can see them/we'll take a cast for the wax museum's/gallery of shame". 'Zero And Counting You Down' is a shiny pop song that sounds like an Indian summer day, with a hint of fall to come wafting in the background. It's happy with something else going on underneath. 'Fallen From The Sun' is one of the more muscular songs, with a full band and some robust guitar playing, yet it still has a characteristic pop touch. This is sophisticated British pop of the sort that I can never get enough of. It was a long time coming, and the care and attention to detail show. Reviewed in Fufkin by Mike Bennett, USA
There`s no doubt the pastoral beauty of XTC`s baroque genius is another launching point, as well. If I did not know better, there`s spirit of late 60`s baroque production technique (think: ZOMBIES` Oddesey And Oracle)... maybe that`s where the WONDERMINTS influence creeps in (check out 'The Trail`s Gone Cold', for best example). There`s clear jangle, glistening "oomph" all over, a confidence the band transmits - they *know* they have a good one here (it took four years, after all!). In fact, it`s a very, very, very good one! I swear 'Why She`s Not A Millionaire' had to be unconsciously written after listening to JELLYFISH`s Bellybutton too many times. It`s sneaking in here on the last days of December 2004, so there`s not been enough time to fully absorb this one to push this onto my Top 20, but for 2005, I`ll make note and break the rules, as this one is going to hold up. Let the CD play on for the last track, too - a stunning bonus track is buried in there. No need to hide this one, guys - let it shine! Extremely Highly Recommended! Reviewed for Not Lame Recordings by Bruce Brodeen, USA
Reviewed for Kool Kat Musik by Ray Gianchetti, USA
There are many such unforgettable moments on this album, the XTCish 'Zero And Counting You Down', the unforgettable chorus of 'Kid Gloves', another stirring guitar break on 'Nothing To see' by Rick Murphy this time, the beautiful ballad 'Sea Fret' (recalling RARE BIRD) , the cheeky masterpiece 'Why She's Not A Millionaire', the irresistibly infectious 'Fallen From The Sun'. I could go on but suffice to say CHEESE has produced the formidable album whose promise was foretold by the collection of demos etc. they entitled Let It Brie in 2001. Magnificent! Reviewed in Zeitgeist by Phil Jackson, UK
Lots of happy memories flooded in - of RARE BIRD on one track (Alan Strawbridge's harmony vocals have a lot to do with this) and even XTC (fleetingly). All in all though, CHEESE have carved a niche all their own and realised, with Marco Rossi as the creative guiding force, the potential amply displayed by the earlier collection of demos etc. that was Let It Brie. Magnificent! Comprehensive review to follow in Zeitgeist! Reviewed in Paradox One by Phil Jackson, UK
Right from the very start with 'Gurl Alone', they are sure to make you "Smile", offering their own contribution to the latest hype, regarding the eagerly awaited release of BRIAN WILSON's long lost "teenage symphony to God". While trying to make things more powerful, they usually add equal parts of XTC quirkiness and RUNDGREN-ized melodies, resulting in power-pop tunes such as 'Zero And Counting You Down', 'Everyone's On To You' or 'W', and while trying to provide a little more tenderness, they're finding the inspiration in Brian's musical twin, born "one ocean and two days away", offering us 'Kid Gloves', which is MACCA goin-psychedelic-with-a-dash-of NEIL FINN, or a pair of more "conventional", but equally beautiful McCartney-ish ballads like 'Nothing To See" and 'Sea Fret'. With 'Underworld' and 'Wax Museum' they use the jazzy flavoured popsike formula, which isn't much farther from where 'Why She's Not A Millionaire' falls, also adding a hint of West Coast sunshiny harmonies. Enlarge... well, at least your CD collection, and the rest will come naturally. Reviewed by Goran Obradovic, SERBIA & MONTENEGRO
Reviewed by DJ Lord Litter, GERMANY
Reviewed in Positive Creed by Steve C. Stone, UK |
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