Behind the scenes, the world of Cha Cha Cohen is sweetly romantic: in the three years since they released their self titled debut album, singer Jacqui Delany has married bassist Keith Gregory. Perhaps as a reaction to that, their music has become even more urgent, propulsive and fierce. Mrs Gregory doesn't sing so much as angrily declaim: "Heavyweight" she barks on Kodiak "same as all the other weight". Behind her Mr Gregory's elastic bassline nudges seductively at Simon Smith's louche drums. You would never guess the two men were once part of The Wedding Present: if their propulsive spacey rhythms are reminiscent of anyone then it is The Fall, an impression consolidated by Tanya Mellote's jerking, electrifying, unexpectedly melodic guitar and the disjointed lyrics ("The big God quaker, the pearly white shaker, the Timbuktu retainer"). From the frantic police chase funk of Century Life to the sultry To The Letter, this is relentlessly paced, thrilling album. [4/5]
MADDY COSTA
Uncut
Stealthy white blues rap from Anglo-Aussie-American mavericks following up 1999 debut.
Haggle for hours over whether this is swamp blues, hip hop or Led Blondie covered by The Fall - Jacqui Gregory and hubby and their cohorts carve out a curving wall of polemic groove with swagger, brio and bile. They recently ran away from Leeds to Jacqui's native Australia but this music (and the front women's hissed barbs and commands) is so New York you can smell the yellow cabs. [4/5]
CHRIS ROBERTS