Seks Bomba - Operation B.O.M.B.A.

  by John Clarkson

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Review

Seks Bomba are a unique one-off. A largely instrumental fusion of fifties lounge and jazz ; sixties spy, surf and film music, and rock, they combine musical exuberance and frenzy with buoyant, tongue-in-cheek wit. The quintet, which features in its line-up George Hall (guitar) ; Chris Cote (guitar and occasional vocals) ; Lori Perkins (organ) ; Matt Silbert (bass) and Brett Campbell (drums), was originally formed in 1995 as a one-off project for a Boston Rock Opera Company production. As a result of their performance in the show, however, they were instantly offered further bookings and quickly expanded into a regular live and recording act. 'Operation B.O.M.B.A', their fifteen track debut CD, was recorded in intermittent bursts over a four year period as and when the band had the money to pay for studio sessions, and was finally released as the first offering of new Massachusetts label 'Ya Ya Records' in May of last year.Half originals, half covers, it is a novel, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining CD with many highlights in its forty minutes running length. Amongst the covers , 'The Cat' retains the funky jazz leanings of its Lalo Schiffren original and, with deceptively irregular drumming from Campbell providing a solid backbone and base for the rest of the band to work from , includes both wailing organ,a chundering bass solo and guitar effects galore. The group's version of Burt Bachariah and Hal David's 'Do You Know the Way to San Jose?' is, however, is about as far removed from its 1968 soulful Dionne Warwick source as possible. Stripped of all vocals other than a doo-wopping backbeat, it is redefined as a breezing and playfully glorious musical romp in which Perkins' twangy-sounding organ holds centre stage. Henry Mancini's Latin-American tinged 'It Had Better be Tonight' is meanwhile also given a fresh makeover and a spirited new feel with a powerful Tom Jones-style vocal performance from Cote. Of the band's own compositions, the opening number 'Jet City', written by Silbert,kickstarts the album in a suitably explosive manner, and, a wild surfing tune, is reminiscent of Dick Dale with its thunderous guitar lines. Most of group's other songs are written by Hall and are often soundtracks for imaginary films. The title track, with its piano-stringed exotic moodiness, is reminiscent of any of half a dozen sixties Cold War thrillers, while the faster, snappier 'Theme from "To Kill 89" is more reflective of Matt Helm or James Bond. 'Satan's Shriners' meanwhile begins as another rampant and crazed surf tune, but halfway through, with Cote adding his own 'Shriner Love Chant', suddenly becomes pseudo-Eastern in feel. The sophisticated and splendid packaging of 'Operation B.O.M.B.A' almost makes the CD worth buying alone. The front sleeve, with its photograph of a chic white-haired sixties-style model casually holding a gun, is designed like a film poster for a spoof spy movie, and on the inside this theme is taken a stage further with 'movie stills' of the band posing as secret agents. Unashamedly upbeat and lively and with a strong emphasis on fun, 'Operation B.O.M.B.A' is a CD that both dares to be different and which is also inimitably original. Best listened to in a similarly bright mood, its sheer forcefulness, energy and deranged humour are its very strengths, and, caught in the right frame of mind, it makes a compulsive, addictive and rewarding musical experience. The band have recently won a Boston Music Award for Outstanding Lounge/Swing Act.With a possible European tour and maybe also a six track EP being lined up for later this year, plus a full length new album definitely coming out early in 2001 , they are an act that independent music will be hearing a lot more of soon.

Track Listing:-

1 Jet City
2 The Right Track (Baby)
3 To Kill 89 Theme
4 Bright Light and You Girl
5 The Cat
6 'Mondo Edgar': Theme
7 Do You Know The Way To San Jose?
8 Klown Kar
9 Operation B.O.M.B.A.
10 'Satan's Shriners': Main Title & Love Theme
11 Last Call
12 It Had Better Be Tonight
13 Rum Holiday
14 The Seks Bomba Theme Part 1
15 Bonus Track: The Seks Bomba Theme Part 2