BPA, The* - I Think We're Gonna Need A Bigger Boat

Good old Norman Cook. He has done so much stuff under so many different names. From the reggae pop of Beats International, The Happy Latin house of Pizzaman and Mighty Dub Katz, The Trip-Hop epics of Fried Funk Food, and of course the master of Big Beat, Fatboy Slim.

His latest project however is the "Brighton Port Authority" (The BPA), which is Norman and his Studio Engerneer Simon Thornton collaborating with all sorts of names, allegedly recorded in the 70's (or not!). Rather than House or Big Beats, this is more like a cross between Singer-Songwritery tunes with Gnarls Barkley-esque production, with names like Conan, Jamie T, Emmy The Great, and a few big stars like Dizzie Rascal, Iggy Pop and David Byrne too. Some of the guest singers are actually dance producers singing! Sounds surreal, but it works hit-and-miss.

In my opinion, it's good, but it just isn't quite Fatboy Slim,in my optinion. I like Emmy The Great's track, David Byrne's catchy "Toe Jam" track with Dizzie Rascal, and Ashley Beedle's "Should I Stay, Or Should I Blow" are brilliant highlights, sometimes, it just drags on a bit, and the vocalists sound a bit monotone occasionaly (maybe, I'm too use to the OTT-ness of Fatboy).

I think The BPA would have been just incredible, if he had gone more for a Modern Funk or Northen Soul direction, and maybe had a few current soul people like Joss Stone or Duffy but that would be more of my own record, though!

Still, worth checking out!