CD Reviews

 

 

Chumbawamba

WYSIWYG (EMI)

Think of Chumbawamba and, by default, you will recall Tubthumping, the huge hit the band had three years ago and still a fave beer song in bars around the world. The band formed in Leeds, England ten years before that as one of the 80's most anarchistic groups, with sharp social comment spewing out of their pores.

Politicians dread Chumbawamba being present at any event, as chaos is often not too far behind. Theirs is a fairly loose association too, the line-up can change with each release, but hey, it's the principle that counts. For a band to condemn capitalism and yet sign to a major label and consequently have such a success in the process is an irony in itself. They have stuck with 'the system' here, even though, like The Artist, the band retains all the rights to the songs. For WYSIWYG, they still manage to point an angry social finger, but do it again within some terrific little pop tracks.

There are jibes at the commercialisation of the Internet, oppressive intrusions of the tabloid press, sugar sweet pop music, Disneyland, and even Calvin Klein's underwear. All with explanatory notes in the sleeve, just in case you missed the point. There will always be politics in art and music, and long may that continue, but the fact that Chumbawamba can wrap up those statements around sing-along two minute pop songs is not only a tribute to their politics, but also to their songsmith abilities. A fun collection with sharp satire.

Oh, and in case you've not figured it out, WYSIWYG is What You See Is What You Get. Very Chumba-clever.