It may be a bit of a stop-gap, consisting of one new song, two offcuts from ‘The Boombox Ballads’ sessions and three covers, but what’s striking about the six tracks on offer here is the diversity. I’m not going to question the perverse logic of releasing a Christmas song at the end of February (‘Don’t Be Alone (This Christmas)’, released on-line in December), and shall instead concentrate on that the EP offers as a whole.
Of the title and lead track, Stephen Black (aka Sweet Baboo) says, “Dennis was the name I gave to my son before he was born. My wife wasn’t as keen as me so we went with something else. Each verse on ‘We Used To Call Him Dennis’ goes through a different name my wife and I considered.” There’s something charming about the personal nature of the lyrics, and it’s carried by a chirpy, jaunty tune.
‘Do the Buzzard’ nicks a Supertramp keyboard line for its root and slaps on some cheeky brass to wrap up a real stomper of a tune. Black describes it as his ‘interpretation of an old-fashioned dance courtship song, if there is such a thing. The lyrics are different mating rituals which I imagine make up the dance steps.’ It’s certainly one you can shake a tailfeather to.
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In contrast, ‘Mountain Top’ is languid and a sad. His uptempo take on The Exciters cut ‘Blowin’ Up My Mind’ is a spirited homage to the original, and packs in a punchin’ groove, before the soaring, tremulous ‘Cuddle Up’ brings things to a low-key conclusion.
It all makes for an EP that’s both rounded and rather enjoyable.
Sweet Baboo Online
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