MY FRIEND THE CHOCOLATE CAKE – FIASCO

“I’ll never bowl like Curtley Ambrose” resigns David Bridie on Great Expectations. Bridie – like many of us past a certain age – have finally, and reluctantly i must add, given up hopes and dreams of representing our nation at cricket/football/orienteering. The call up will never come. In lieu of opening the bowling Bridie continues to team with the Chocolate Cake crew in an effective manner after a surprising twenty one years together. Nowhere is the MFTCC sound more in evidence than 25 Stations – a tune propelled by the signature brushed snare and piano. Elsewhere their are few new ingredients in the well-know recipe, just the odd friend like Greg Fleet – whose spoken work parts on 23 Stations and Great Expectations are worth paying attention to. If occasionally it sounds like MFTCC are coasting along their own chamber pop way, it is worth remembering the success of such a unique blend of pop music with chamber instruments was a delightful surprise 21 years ago and continues to be original in its own right today, “…on with the show”.

*** 1/2