Search - Brighton Port Authority :: I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

The rubber hits the road, right between my toes.

Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 01/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) is back with his latest project The Brighton Port Authority, or The BPA. The liner notes give a funny, fictional account about the music on this disc and how it came to pass. Norman Cook stretches out on The BPA by utilizing different vocalists on each of the 12 tracks.



What's the result? Well, a mix between Fatboy Slim and each vocalist, really. I only knew a few of the vocalists such as Iggy Pop on a brilliant cover of The Monochrome Set's 1983 song "He's Frank (Slight Return)". David Byrne on "Toe Jam", Pete York on "Dirty Sheets" and Martha Wainwright on "Spade". New to me are Connan Mockasin from New Zealan on "Jumps The Fence", Ashley Beedle a DJ from England on "Should I Stay Or Should I Blow", Justin Robertson a DJ from England on "Island", English singer/songwriter Jamie T on "Local Town", English singer/songwriter Emmy The Great on "Seattle", English engineer/producer Simon Thornton (who also produces this cd with Norman Cook) on "Superman", remixer Cagedbaby on "Superlover" and someone named Olly Hite on the excellent cover of Nick Lowe's 1978 classic "So It Goes" from the "Jesus of Cool" album.



The BPA really starts 2009 with a bang, with most songs being very catchy and above average in terms of melodies and quirky, funny, memorable lyrics. A great idea, in other words! I hope Norman Cook and Simon Thornton do a second BPA album with 12 more singers.



My choice selections are "He's Frank (Slight Return)", "Should I Stay Or Should I Blow", "Island", "Local Town", "Seattle", "Spade", "Toe Jam" and "So It Goes".



I am glad I got my copy early thanks to its exclusiveness. The wide release date is February 3rd, 2009. If you are a Fatboy Slim fan, you should check this out, you will not be disappointed."

Fresh Sound

W. Dietrich | Las Vegas | 02/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have always enjoyed an occasional Fatboy Slim song in the past but was never a huge fan of the dance beats. I saw a review in Blender that said Fatboy Slim had a side project and thought why not give it a try.



I was very happy with my purchase. There are so many bands out right now that you could listen to a song and attribute it to three or four bands that sound actually a like. That is not going to happen here on ITWGNABB! The album itself seems to try to creata a 70s / 80s vibe to it and each song is compeletly different to the last thanks to all the guest singers. My favorite songs are the ones with David Bryne and Martha Wainwright.



Anyways if you are looking for a new sound and some original music give this cd a try."

Sounds unlike anything else!!

Nse Ette | Lagos, Nigeria | 04/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Brighton Port Authority is "Fatboy Slim" Norman Cook's latest moniker and his new CD "I think we're gonna need a bigger boat" (title nicked from the Steven Spielberg movie "Jaws") is already one of my favourite discs of 2009. It comprises catchy, retro-sounding dance grooves with guest vocalists featured on every song, what's not to like?



The sound is varied with not one song sounding like the next ensuring there's at least something for everyone, from Iggy Pop's dry spoken/sung delivery on "He's Frank (Slight return)", the creepy/fuzzy sounding "Dirty sheets" (featuring Pete York), "Jumps the fence" (with a spoken delivery from Connan Mockasin), the Ska-tinged "Should I stay or should I blow" (with Ashley Beede), or the atmospheric U2-ish "Island" (with Justin Robertson).



"Seattle" is a choppy Pop song with Emmy the great, while the retro soundig Reggae of "Spade" features an Amy Winehouse-channeling Martha Wainwright. The pulsing groovy "Superman" features Simon Thornton giving a hushed delivery, the sombre almost Trip Hop "Superlover" features Cagedbaby, the very British-sounding "Local town" with Jamie T, and the bouncy horn-peppered "Toe Jam" features a Caribbean rhythm and the unlikely pairing of David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal.



The songs are brief and to the point, never overstaying their welcome. Richly textured. and a great party record!"