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The BPA
I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat
Southern Fried Records
Go on the website for The BPA (Brighton Port Authority) and you will find a tale of intrigue and long-lost studio recordings dating back to the 1970's. In reality, the BPA is another alias for Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim. Mystery and alter-egos aside, the BPA's collaborations with a variety of performers from Iggy Pop to Dizzee Rascal result in one impressive debut. The album starts off with a driving cover of "He's Frank (Slight Return)" by the Monochrome Set, featuring the almost-talking, low monotone of Iggy Pop. From there the songs alternate between the upbeat to more dream-like pop. "Should I Stay or Should I Blow?" with Ashley Beedle on vocals is a pure delight with its combination of a Latin beat and bubble gum pop and it's hard to not start dancing to the driving first single "Toe Jam" with David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal. Martha Wainwright's stunning voice stands out on the reggae-esque "Spade," while Emmy the Great's soft vocals perfectly complement the ethereal airy-ness of "Seattle." The catchy "Dirty Sheets" is the most rock-oriented track on the album, featuring vocals by Pete, while the combination of the politically-minded lyrics and the Jason Mraz-like sound make for an intriguing mix in "So It Goes" with Olly Hite on vocals. The variety of musical styles and the talent of the vocalists make listening to this album an absolute joy and impossible to resist.
—Jessica Simons
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