:: Tropical Brainstorm

Kirsty MacColl

“Tropical Brainstorm” is a very interesting record. Released just prior to Kirsty MacColl’s death, the CD sounds like a celebration of life. With prominent Latin stylings and cheeky, playful lyrics it’s a really fun release with some interesting lyrical themes to boot. “Treachery” is a song about stalking in reverse – the singer is stalking the fan, and getting annoyed that the fan doesn’t like her as much as he used to, (he’s gone to buy a CD, by a girl who’s not me). “Here Comes That Man Again” takes a look at the seedy world of the Internet sex chat rooms (mmm, is that a mouse I see?). The first 4 tracks: “Mambo De La Luna”, “In These Shoes?” “Treachery” and “Here Comes That Man Again” are all great party songs, featuring salsa grooves and sexy bi-lingual lyrics – they’ll have you doing Rumbas in the living room! Other highlights include “Autumn Girl Soup”, a groovy ballad and “England 2, Columbia 0”, a cool song about an ex-lover who turns out to be an adulterous liar. The general theme of this CD is sex, and the carefree Brazilian lifestyle (presumably if you have money!). Practically every song hits one of these themes in varying degrees. “Tropical Brainstorm” is cool, the music and instrumentation is first rate, sounding like a Latin “Graceland”, albeit a touch more sultry!