Review

Live Tropical Fish: The Day Is Too Short To Be Selfish (LTF Records)

Acid Jazz never really died and seems to be coming back even Mother Earth are reforming, yikes! So it's nice to see that italian survivors Live Tropical Fish are still going strong and more still producing quality material.

Opening track 'Peace Of Mind' shows off their exceptional chops on this breezy, summery ditty which is beautifully arranged with floaty rhodes, incisive horns and some breathy warbling from singer Deborah Jordan.

The form is maintained too with 'Complete Me' replete with the phattest of horn sections and some funky, afro scratchy, guitar that propel singer Alison Crockett sweetly along. The girl soars and puts in overtime on her vocal delivery and aches for her man (on the track that is !) like a lot of soul divas do! A stonking jazz funk workout with a crisp baritone sax solo giving it real pathos.

'Speak Easy' shows the level of musical maturity this outfit have built up over the years it's great to hear this stuff in it's truest sense i.e. the sound of a band in harmony and in sympatico with one another. Some wicked slap bass dominates and singer Nick Rolfe begs you not to judge him by the colour of his skin. A lyrical content that sadly still needs reinforcing.

Another Highlight and my fave on the album 'A Rather Uncomfortable Combination' starts with an absolute sick guitar lick and is driven by swinging drums and congas and again, those signature horns which would give incognito a run for their money. This is no fifty yard dash, no sir, way it's bigger than your average funk ticket!

Live Tropical Fish have produced some classic stuff here (no potboilers here!) and are gearing up for a promotion to the premier league and a bigger say on the international platform, do us a favour give them a leg up there will ya? Because as L'Oreal says "They're worth it!"
Words Emrys Baird