Cheap Jazz – The Shape of Fun To Come
Posted on 10th Jan 12 by Jonathan Keane | 
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“…the unabashed hooks of the album means that the unruly catchiness will take up residence in your head as you hum some of the tunes over and over unknowingly…”
Cheap Jazz’s latest record’s name, The Shape of Fun to Come, may be derivative of two other albums’ names but the title rings through with a palpable accuracy. Cheap Jazz are, if nothing else, fun. The British four-piece’s shamelessly hook inflected alt rock exudes a youthful vibrancy from the opening suavely guitars in the wonderfully titled School is a Gateway Drug, then, in keeping with the interesting song titles, John Belululululushi sees the band delve in some meandering guitars that become a mainstay on the album.
There’s certainly a flavour of early Biffy Clyro to be found too on The Shape of Fun To Come, their first full-length, with some moments being happily reminiscent of Blackened Sky and The Vertigo of Bliss. 8 6 4 Desmond is a prime example, bursting through the speakers with frenzied, untamed vocals but then the band quickly discard the easy reference and conjure their own identity. It’s that erraticism that defines Cheap Jazz – a fervent and wholly welcomed act of throwing caution to the wind. The extended instrumental jam sections are an empowering proof of this with extended meandering passages that must surely have heads bopping, a bit of dancing or some kind of physical act of appreciation.
The Shape of Fun to Come only loses some of its momentum midway. Rope doesn’t really go anywhere and can even run the risk being tedious on some listens. But by album closer, the instrumental Pap Smear, the band have seemingly taken another shot of adrenaline that has well and truly kicked in.
Again, the unabashed hooks of the album means that the unruly catchiness will take up residence in your head as you hum some of the tunes over and over unknowingly, and hooks like these don’t come to its artists with ease. Granted, the band could have shaved off one or two tracks here and few minutes off the running time but it shouldn’t distract from the gems peppered throughout.
Drop-d Rating: 7/10