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Whilst the Editor was trying out his new equipment at the family reunion (see exclusive footage on FLY and Jill interview HERE), I’ve been getting to grips with the album.

When you start listening to this album, you may think that it is French as it is almost sung exclusively in French by Rupa. But what’s French these days? Turntablist Birdy Nam Nam are but this comes more from the likes of Les Negresses Vertes with less punk and more world as there lots of Gypsy influences. But nowhere near the mayhem of the likes of Balkan Beat Box.

Now whether it is the fact that these guys are based in San Francisco and Rupa is a part-time physician, there is a dark depressed feel to many of the tracks; some sort of recognition that we better be having a good time when we can before we pass on.

This duplicity is best exhibited on ‘La Pecheuse’ and ‘Mal De Mar’ and by the time we get to ‘Yaad’, that is like an acoustic minimalism, you just about get the hang of; especially as it is exquisitely done. These guys sound more like they’ve been classically trained than the likes of Balkan Beat Box/Les Negresses Vertes. The label, Cumbancha, say the band “create music that defies easy categorization.” I’ll go along with that. What it means is that you just have to give it a little more time on the more unusual tracks.

There’s no problem though with the tango of ‘Maintenant’, the high speed ‘Poder’ (sung in Spanish) or swinging ‘C’est Pas D’L’amour’ (those of a certain age will fear that this one will dip into a version of Mary Hopkins’ ‘Those Were The Days’ which made me slightly scared). And then in total contrast to that, the best track for me is the sleezy Parisian street jazz of ‘Les Abeilles’. If my ‘O’ level French was a little better I’d have a stab at finding out what the lyrics were about to it.

The CD ends on the only song sung in English, ‘Wishful Thinking’. Not exactly a sea shanty, but it’s a tale of running away to sea with suitable accordion emphasis that reminds me of the excellent album Rogue’s Gallery (and now the forthcoming Rogue’s Gallery Concert at the Barbican Hall - see preview HERE).

As Jill says in her review of Rupa & The April Fishes at Momo, that these guys would be great at Festival. Today, they are playing at the NYC Central Park Summer Stage today with festivals booked up for Quebec City (Festival d’Éte), the Montreal Jazz Festival, Regina Folk Festival in Saskatchewan and their home town Outside Lands Festival in August (see links below to their myspace site).

If you want to have a good time, go mental to ‘Plus Que Moi’, if you want to get a little bit Jaques Brel, ‘La Peinture’, if you want to slit your wrists, ‘Mal De Mer’ and if you want to open St. Peter’s Gates, ‘Yaad’. Is this what extraordinary rendition is all about or are these April Fools having a laugh? Who knows? I’m off to sea (wishful thinking).

Reviewed: Rupa & The April Fishes - eXtraOrdinary rendition (Cumbancha) Cat. No. CMN-CD-7 Release date: Summer 2008
Tracklisting:
1 (San Francisco) (0:52)
2 Mainentant (4:07)
3 Poser (3:38)
4 Le Pêcheuse (4:50)
5 Une Americaine A Paris (4:08)
6 Le Pecheuse (5:36)
7 Mal De Mer (4:39)
8 Les Abeilles (5:30)
9 Plus Que Moi (3:57)
10 Not So Easy (1:47)
11 La Peinture (4:36)
12 Yaad (4:54)
13 Wishful Thinking (3:53)

Links
www.myspace.com/aprilfishes
www.theaprilfishes.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupa_and_the_April_Fishes
www.cumbancha.com
www.momoresto.com June 10 Momo London
www.negressesvertes.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition_by_the_United_States “controversial detention method practiced by the United States”