Torpedo Boyz – Headache Music / 2007 Sounds from the Roof / 15 Tracks / http://www.torpedo-boyz.com / http://www.soundsfromtheroof.com / Reviewed 20 January 2007

I have not heard of the Torpedo Boyz before sticking this CD into the player, and while “Gimme A Bassline” is a solid track, one cannot do anything but hear Cake in the overall approach of the Boyz on this track. While it is understood that a number of dance tracks like this one can have longer mixes owing to their specific nature, the one thing that can be said about this opening track is that Torpedo Boyz come forth with a track that is interesting throughout the track’s six-plus minute runtime. However catchy “Gimme A Bassline” might have been, “Start Being Nicer” has that much more funk to it. Torpedo Boyz know the perfect blend of funk and dance to get catchy tracks that do not feel dated or trite in the least.

This style continues with “Are You Talking To Me???”. While there are some things that are common throughout this disc, the fact is that the disc almost sounds as if it is a compilation rather than being a cohesive album by a band. Each of the cuts on “Headache Music” could conceivably make it onto the dance charts without much in the way of work. All of the songs are considerably longer than their pop cousins, but there is enough material present in each song to keep individuals interested. Hints of other songs come out, such as during “Au Jour Et A L’Heur”, but they are recontextualized to a point that they are purely the Torpedo Boyz.

The addition of French as a language to “Headache Music” further diversifies the band and allows individuals to continue listening to the disc. The laid-back tempo of “Au Jour Et A L’Heur” gives the disc a much different feeling than the other preceding tracks had. With such a diverse disc, the replay value of “Headache Music” is through the roof. The act has only been around for a couple of years, but the maturity shown during “Headache Music” is without any easy comparison. The act seem much more adept with their creation of music than other acts that have been in the scene for twice or three times the length of the Torpedo Boyz. Throw in a little rap, as is the case with “Bokura Wa Shonen Tantei-Dan”, and one has a complete album to listen to that covers every single base that one could conceivably cover.

Top Tracks: Bokura Wa Shonen Tantei-Dan, Are You Talking To Me?

Rating: 7.0/10

[JMcQ]