Nizlopi - Make It Happen
(FDM Records)
http://www.nizlopi.com/

Brits Luke Concannon and John Parker, childhood friends, have been playing soulful songs under the name Nizlopi since they formed in the 1990s. Their first album, Half These Songs Are About You, didn't come out until 2004, however, and it featured the hugely popular JCB Song with its quirky animated video. Their follow-up album, Make It Happen, retains the heartful voice of Concannon and Parker’s double bass.

In fact, were it not for the double bass, Nizlopi would still be a talented duo and a pleasant listen, but nothing strikingly original. Although they list hip hop as an influence and Parker masters human beatbox, only a few of the songs have any of these elements. Opening track Start Beginning is prime single material (and it is, in fact, their first single off of this album). The song is verbally challenging and has a gospel feel to it especially towards the latter half, when a supporting choir backs up Concannon’s singing. I’m Alive Again is one of the few with a real hip hop feel to it, with Parker’s beatboxing evident. The social protest theme present in it is not particular to this track. In fact, Part Of Me and, above all, England Up Rise are active calls to protest. Part Of Me mentions a plethora of popular personalities, including George Bush, Amy Winehouse and Vladimir Putin and asks them to say part of them is gay. In England Up Rise, renown Rastafarian poet Benjamin Zephaniah speaks out at the beginning and the rest of the song is a mix of folksy hip hop.

The best song in this album is probably Flooded Quarry, where Concannon’s changes of pitch are noteworthy and reminiscent of the great Joni Mitchell, whom the band actually lists as an influence. The references to nature and the intrinsic melody also hint at Mitchell’s influence.

All in all a good piece of work, although the hip hop influence seems to diminish the otherwise original sound stemming from Parker’s double bass.

Christina Cromeyer Dieke