We were there when this group first played London and met several of the members including very briefly project leader Scott Bradlee, after the show. The act tours with a formidable array of male and female vocalists who can all harmonise, backed by a small old-time dance band, the kind you might have seen in the late 40s in New York or Chicago. As for the material, you won’t hear Autumn Leaves or The Lady Is A Tramp as the ensemble specialises in playing modern pop songs in a thoroughly retro style. The possible Achilles Heel in such a venture – and fall on it they do from time to time – is the comparative lack of great melodies on some modern ‘songs’ especially those aimed at The Dance Fraternity, a robotic beat is quite enough for these cats. However when it all works, the results can be glorious. Even on a number where the original was bleated rather than actually sung e.g. Sweet Child Of Mine, the Guns’n’Roses composition. All in all it’s a crowd-pleasing concoction, infectious and tuneful and something different….

We Can’t Stop is a bluesy sway of an opening number, stabbing piano and crooning bv’s and all, Robyn Anderson upfront in the mike. Maps has a cool arrangement and sweet soul vocal by Morgan James who I remember talking to. Creep is a total misfire – a downer song that does not benefit from rejigging, no fault of singer Haley Reinhart. All About That Bass on the other hand really rocks, Kate Davies savouring the vocal.

No Diggity is treated like a Cole Porter original Arlana Savalas wrings the sex out of the song ; I Believe In A Thing Called Love simply sounds camp but pleasantin the hands of Maiya Sykes with a cute falsetto here and there; My Heart Will Go On is a dodo and Mykal Sykes and a doowop setting can’t revive it. Royals wasn’t much of a song to start with…

Stacy’s Mom the great indie rock hit here sounds like monochrome movie music, almost Laurel and Hardy. Doesn’t quite click; Rude with Von Smith sounds spirited. Thrift Shop is delivered as a saloon bar blues and sounds great, Anderson singing.

Burn is OK but I wish they’d revamped the Deep Purple number. The session sounds fun in a vampy way; Seven Nation Army was always a stoner riff more than a song and the Peggy Lee tempo’d version isn’t band but not the best on offer here.

Sorry puts Shoshana Bean upfront, works a treat and perfect tune for this slant ; Halo has Lavance Colley lead vocal, not bad again not a great number to start with. Hey Ya! Is of course very familiar – remember that girl in the yellow dress in the video? – and the song is taken to the barroom with some success, here. Such Great Heights benefits from horns and Kiah sings it just right.

Our copy came with an extra booklet, lifestyle-related, adding to the vibe of the release. Every singer is excellent, all the players excel, some of the song choices are clinkers but most aren’t. This is an act that you really must experience live in performance. Do yourself a favour and ensure that you do!

Pete Sargeant

(Many thanks to Jamie and all of the team at Republic Media)