The Chap, the already-legendary, pan- European, London-based modern pop group, are back with their new single, "Proper Rock," which sees them playing, well, proper rock music. Or maybe not...
Why is there a very camp-sounding fire fighter's choir fronting some kind of fierce sci-fi indie rock combo, demanding "Proper songs about girls and clubbing"? Do they mean that? They even mention someone called Rod. It's very confusing, but it rocks and stays in your head for days. Honest!
On the flip side, we find a cover version of Tina Turner's 'What's love got to do with it". Apparently, it was recorded in about 30 minutes some years ago. It features the best violin solo known to mankind. The singer forgets the lyrics. It's mind-blowing. For a very long time, fans have demanded that this be released.
A truly classic single. It's infectious, blistering pop music, but all the while something is deliciously wrong here, making for what is sure to be one of the most intriguing releases of 2008.
"Sufficient to gather up much of what is presented to us as contemporary cutting-edge pop and render it deeply mediocre by comparison" --Guardian Guide, Track of the Week
"The Chap are the only group that have managed to combine the ruff and dirty energy of disco and rock with a sense of pastel warmth and melodic clarity." --Straight No Chaser
"It's cool and dry, and it's all over the place as well. It's sonically unpredictable and harmonically lopsided, yet almost infuriatingly catchy. It's fractured and jerky, but smoothly enticing at the same time. It's cerebral and detached in its methodology but visceral in its impact. Most of all, it's fantastic fun. Serious fun." --The Wire
