MAMBA SPINS

TISSUES & ISSUES – CHARLOTTE CHURCH

Marketed and distributed by SonyBMG

Not many people are familiar with Charlotte Church – unless you follow the British tabloids closer than your skincare routine or are a lover of classical and/or opera music. With record sales exceeding 10 million albums, Charlotte Church released her debut classical crossover album at age thirteen, and remained highly successful throughout her second and third albums (the third one entered Billboard’s Hot 200 Album Chart at number 15). However, the grown up Charlotte is a far cry from the classical Charlotte, and her debut pop-album, Tissues & Issues, was released late last year. I was delightfully surprised by the ease with which she mixes raunchy, rock-tinged tracks with personal, almost confessional songs. Writing partners include Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), Marcella Detroit (of Shakespear’s Sister-fame), Rick Nowels and Gary Barlow (Take That) amongst others, and songs like Call My Name, Crazy Chick, Moodswings (To Come At Me Like That), Finding My Own Way, Fool No More, Even God and Confessional Song truly impress. Tissues & Issues is a listenable and highly enjoyable album that I believe is well worth exploring.

PCD – THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS

Marketed and distributed by Universal

I might be gay but I do have a soft-spot for hot women – especially if they can sing and dance and act raunchy while doing so. This is the first thing that drew me to The Pussycat Dolls; the video for their global smash hit Dontcha depicts the girls being seriously naughty and fits perfectly with the lyrics of the song. I also enjoyed their debut album, PCD, for this same reason. It isn’t Grammy-material, but it’s probably the most fun a gay guy can have with a half dozen girls. It’s a mix of hip hop-influenced pop songs, almost camp remakes and show-tunes and slower, sexier songs. Besides Dontcha and Stickwitu (the first and second singles respectively), I also enjoyed Beep (featuring will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas), the raunchy Buttons, the F-you empowerment of I Don’t Need A Man, the cabaret flavoured Right Now, and the sexy Sway (as featured in Shall We Dance). Sexy bodies, strong voices and even stronger songwriters and producers make a lethal and highly infectious combination on PCD.

NOMVULA – FRESHLYGROUND

Marketed and distributed by SonyBMG

If ever there was a buzzword in the South African music scene, Freshlyground must be it. The group became a household name late last year thanks to the overwhelming success of their single Doo Be Doo (from the group’s second album, Nomvula) and since then there has been no stopping them. The track in itself is not only ridiculously catchy, but is also a good example of what the band is all about. Their music is a blend of Afro-pop that is accessible to the broader public, and other stand-out tracks include the jazzy I Am The Man, the slow Nomvula (After The Rain), Vanish, Zithande and Buttercup. Also worth a special mention is lead singer Zolani Mahola’s voice – her vocals are remarkable in my opinion and are beautifully adaptable to the style of each song; whether it’s fun or introspective, each track fits her voice like a glove. One of SA music’s best kept secrets. Then again, they’ve already sold in excess of 75 000 copies and after hearing the album you will probably realise that it really isn’t difficult to understand why.

UNPLUGGED – ALICIA KEYS

Marketed and distributed by SonyBMG

Every now and again an artist enters the global music scene with such a bang that it’s hard to imagine a world without him or her. Alicia Keys is one of those artists – a classically trained pianist that astounded the world with her musical and lyrical knowledge, interpretation and execution. With Songs In A Minor and The Diary Of Alicia Keys (her debut and sophomore albums) she managed to garner a massive world-wide fan base and even scooped up an armful of Grammy Awards with her unique blend of streetwise funk, R&B, hip-hop and classical piano. With most of her music being piano-driven and fairly acoustic to start with, it is a natural progression for her to step into the unplugged arena, and her funkier songs actually benefit from the live percussion used in the show. Alicia Keys Unplugged features three new tracks (current single Unbreakable, Every Little Bit Hurts, and Wild Horses with Maroon 5’s Adam Levine), as well as the funky Love It Or Leave It Alone/ Welcome To Jamrock featuring various guests. Also included are familiar favourites like Fallin’, If I Ain’t Got You, How Come You Don’t Call Me, A Woman’s Worth and Karma – a catalogue that speaks for itself.

NEW BEGINNINGS – JUDITH SEPHUMA

Marketed and distributed by SonyBMG

Judith Sephuma’s debut album, A Cry, A Smile, A Dance, wasn’t only critically acclaimed but also accumulated platinum-plus sales, two South African Music Awards, two Kora Awards, and two Metro FM awards. Late 2005 saw the singer return after four years with a highly anticipated second album aptly entitled New Beginnings. Recorded over a four-month period in 2005, the album is a personal celebration of achievements in Judith’s life and an encouragement to listeners and fans to venture into greater things. Featuring twelve tracks (with the majority co-written by Judith), some of my favourites on the album include the title track, New Beginnings, as well as Kwazi Bani (featuring Ringo Madlingozi), A Call (featuring Stoan Seate), the beautiful Let My Voice, Kupedza Nguva (featuring Zimbabwean singer Oliver Mtukudzi), and Give Peace A Chance. Blessed with a voice to die for, Judith Sephuma is one of our premier jazz vocalists and I believe that New Beginnings will not only confirm this for her fan base, but also win her quite a few more followers.

DANGEROUS & MOVING – TATU

Marketed and distributed by Universal

Early in 2003 the world was introduced to a group called TATU, two girls with almost too obvious faux lesbian on-stage antics that would go on to become Russia’s biggest musical export. Their debut album, 200km/h In The Wrong Lane, spawned the massive hits All The Things She Said and Not Gonna Get Us and made TATU a household name across Europe. TATU returned to the global charts at the end of 2005 with their second album, Dangerous and Moving, an album that roughly follows the same recipe as their debut. It’s a collection of no-fuss pop music with a slight rock-edge, although the songs are not as instantaneously catchy as on the first album. Songs like All About Us, Friend Or Foe, Gomenasai, Perfect Enemy, Obezyanka Nol, Dangerous And Moving and Sacrifice are highlights. While I would like to see the girls work with other