Five by Chris Boddington Review

Five by Chris Boddington Review

Chris Boddington is an artist who never fails to engage his audience because he never settles for the safe option with his music. He continues to explore his huge musical hinterland and brings something new to the genre with every album he releases. Five is an album with 8 tracks in a tightly packed 30 minutes that bristles with ideas and an enthusiasm for dance music that is indefatigable. Give it a go. You’ll be glad you did.  

Track 1 – Invisible Man The electronic accompaniment to Invisible Man reminds me of the brilliant Dead and Gone by T.I. with Justin Timberlake. It gives the track a real immediacy and a flair that starts off the album with a bang. It shows Chris’ knowledge of the different areas of the EDM scene through the ages, especially as it connected with the rap scene of the early to mid-2000s in particular, and his ability to pick out the sound of any era whilst making it entirely his own.

Track 2 – Do It This track is another rhythm heavy lyrical performance which means that this track has an unsettling edge to it and Chris moulds the tune around the words to great effect. At times you are listening to the lyrics, but then the tune hits you with its originality and intriguing use of effects that put me in mind of a chipmunk for some reason! It is a really complete and fascinating song that demonstrates the disparate influences that Chris can put together.

Track 3 – Hustlin’ This track is based around a jangly, almost C&W style guitar riff that draws you in and shows that Chris can make a dance tune in pretty much any genre. It’s like a really chilled Cotton Eye Joe. The lyrics are more in the background of this song and this allows you to concentrate on the great tune. I really enjoyed the more playful air to it as it contrasts very effectively with the heavier opening pair of tracks.

Track 4 – Marrakech This is my favourite on the album. It has an Arabic tinge as the title suggests and comes out of the speakers like the best of the Karma Lounge style tunes. It is simply hypnotic and absolutely sublime, and just the type of song to end a night of dancing under the stars in an open-air club. Musically it is an absolute gem that stands comparison with any dance track you care to name.

Track 5 – Odyssey Another really good tune that weaves in and out of what sounds like another blissed out track. It complements Marrakech very well, having a similar style but slightly more rapping that gives it another club friendly vibe that cleverly raises the pace and benefits from a heavier edge. One of the things that Chris has always done well on his albums is to create a cohesive sound that threads its way through the tracks.

Track 6 – Say Your Prayer This has a female vocal which is a throwback to a jazzier sound and, in places, has a feeling of the late 80s to it, but the tune is much more from the 2000s. It sounds as if two disparate songs had suddenly met up and realised that they suited each other, and this is why the track works so well. You realise that there is a lot going on here, and this is the result of Chris’ musical magpie tendencies and his ear for a song working together brilliantly.

Track 7 – I Like When U The Pet Shop Boys would recognise the use of the echoing lyrics, stealthy synth and occasional guitar break from their early albums, and I don’t think they would be too unhappy with the comparison. There’s a hint of Domino Dancing and a stripped back Surburbia which makes this song another favourite of mine on a strong and highly listenable album.

Track 8 – Loca The final track has a Spanish language vocal that brings it a completely different feel from the tracks on the rest of the album. The tune is also completely different with an increasing BPM and what sounds like the early internet dial up tone! This is Chris telling you that he has one more surprise up his sleeve and it is, by turns, hypnotic and completely let off the leash.