CHEESE ~ LET IT BRIE

A band called CHEESE simply must name an album Let it Brie, just as a combo calling itself SEX would need a Let It Breed, and BONG CABOOSE would opt for Bud On The Tracks. Goofy rubrics aside, Let it Brie is pretty tasty. It's technically a debut from the Dorset-based foursome, compiling material recorded between 1994 and 1997. There are the chiming XTCisms of 'Popular Music' and 'Forever Dumb', and the natural allusions to THE BEATLES throughout. But while its influences are always close at hand, CHEESE can also stand alone. 'It's Alright, You'll Be Dead Soon' and 'Wyke Five-O' are driven by energetic stabs of interwoven electric guitar and Marco Rossi's straining, charming vocals; they're taut, wiry numbers that seem to cross post-punk slash with pop heartburn. Elsewhere, the layered, atmospheric 'All The Wrong Drugs' echoes off of brick buildings and reflects in the puddles of tight urban spaces. Ultimately, Let it Brie succeeds because CHEESE spreads its own vitality and clever dynamics across its universe of influences.

Reviewed in All Music Guide by Johnny Loftus, USA

Let It Brie is a compilation drawing from the 1994-97 period of Brit powerpoppers CHEESE. The band - Rich Murphy, Marco Rossi, Alan Strawbridge and Chris Page (not the Ottawa performer of STAND GT/GLEN NEVOUS fame), and alternate bassist Steve Wilson - were/are purveyors of high-grade powerpop that every fan of the genre should endeavour to discover. Unlike most powerpop outfits, CHEESE don’t seem to be slavishly devoted to either THE BEATLES or BIG STAR - their influence can be more accurately traced to the brief period between the former’s demise and the latter’s rise and groups like BADFINGER. Their catchy tunes are rife with melody and hooks by by the boatload, and even have the occasionally radio-friendly sheen at points, as in 'Late' but as you’d expect from a band named CHEESE, the group isn’t entirely straightfaced. Under the gilded vocal harmonies there’s the rare shiver of spiky guitar for that added XTC-ish bite. Songs with titles like 'He’s Hardly Officer Material' and 'All The Wrong Drugs' also show an endearing willingness to step off the beaten track. Let It Brie is highly recommended for all but the most lactose-intolerant pop fans.

Reviewed at Pennyblack Music by Andrew Carver, UK

As I am lactose intolerant and don’t even like to be around cheese, this band name and album title could have put me off. However, the involvement of Al Strawbridge and Rich Murphy from the fantastic LUCKY BISHOPS was enough to make me want to hear Let It Brie. Well, it’s another gem from Pink Hedgehog so here is where I should come up with a clever quote along the lines of "it’s the only cheese that doesn’t make me ill for days." In addition to Murphy on guitar and Strawbridge on bass, CHEESE features frontman Marco Rossi (also the guitarist of THE KEVIN McDERMOTT ORCHESTRA) and drummer Chris Page (who played in the pre-Bishops band ORANGE). The songs on this CD were recorded between 1994 and 1997.

CHEESE approaches late ‘70s/early ‘80s music with the same inventiveness that the LUCKY BISHOPS use to resurrect earlier periods in rock history. The hooks, crisp rhythms and smart tempo changes are much more generously served up than on any vintage new wave pop album I can recall. The vocal harmonies are outstanding. XTC is a major influence on tracks like 'Popular Music', 'Where Are They Now', 'Big Hit' and the CD’s epic centerpiece 'He’s Hardly Officer Material/All Change'. The ballads 'Late' and 'All The Wrong Drugs' sound like the spacey, earnest side of THOMAS DOLBY. There are hints of SQUEEZE, ELVIS COSTELLO, JOE JACKSON and probably a dozen British new wave artists whose music didn’t reach me in New York. All of this bright new wave music has a sad undercurrent in Rossi’s cheerfully (or resolutely?) fatalistic sentiments. Titles such as 'Everybody’s Gone', 'It’s Alright, You’ll Be Dead Soon' and (I’ve Wasted) 'All The Time In The World' indicate the melancholy lurking behind the funny album title and the catchy tunes. As Rossi sings in 'Popular Music', "these words are made of sweet decay". Overall, Let It Brie is like a trip straight to the best of 1982, updated with a strong songwriting vision and excellent musical interplay.

Reviewed in Free City Media by Nick Bensen, USA

Here's a British band whose recorded output almost remained in the vaults, and if you're an addict of what they call "the thinking men's pop", in that case you would never forgive the ones who knew about it. Taking the imaginative, quirky musical aproaches of XTC, TODD'S UTOPIA or JELLYFISH, CHEESE doesn't let anything sound ordinary. Usualy, this kind of a concept is profoundly comercialised with big choruses like in the opener 'Popular Music' or the "crowded" 'All The Time In The World", or it's just "plain" melody eruption, full of powerful UTOPIA/NAZZ moments, interveined with all of the "cheap tricks" to get your attention, like in 'Unhinged Melody', 'Everybody's Gone' or the 'Big Hit' (that never was, unfortunately). Among all these power-chords, there are also some gentler pieces like the psych-pop sound of 'Late', combined with some PADDY McALOON sophistication, then the Macca-on-acid-kinda-XTC-sound of 'Where Are They Now?' or another one, this time told with a bit straighter, Paulanguage, called 'Meaningful Meaningless' as well as the Jellyfishin' arrangement coupled with some acoustic backed choirboy harmonies in the "two for one" structure of 'He's Hardly Officer Material/All Change'. I'm sure that after hearing this album, I won't have to say "cheese", cuz it's gonna bring smiles on your faces anyway.

Reviewed at Popism by Goran Obradovic, YUGOSLAVIA

From the first few bars of this recording you know you’re in for a treat as an exceptional rhythm section drive us through ‘Popular Music’. The 14 tracks pass very quickly with a succession of great melodies and hooks, wonderful vocal harmonies and expansive guitar work. CHEESE is a Dorset (England) based band fronted by Marco Rossi, who is also known for his role as guitarist in the KEVIN McDERMOTT ORCHESTRA. Think BIG STAR in the vocal harmonies, XTC in the inventive and at times ‘quirky’ guitar and bass lines and SQUEEZE not only in Alan’s vocals but also the ‘intelligent power pop’ approach and general song construction to get an idea of just how good this band is. The music was recorded between 1994 and 1997 but as this compilation was put together in 2001 it definitely goes down in my book as one of the recommended releases of 2001.

Reviewed in Zeitgeist by Phil Jackson, UK

Everyone has his own dreams and so has Simon Felton. Not only is Simon part of his own band GARFIELDS BIRTHDAY, but the man also runs his own label Pink Hedgehog, that is known as a label who gives unsigned bands a chance... but he also picks up bands from the bands that are a bit forgotten simply cos back then no one was interested, or in other words bands that only released some dodgy tapes or self-released singles that are nowhere to be found. CHEESE are such a band, they were together from 1994 till 1997 and this CD Let It Brie (hence the reference to the latest album by THE BEATLES) is a sort of retrospective from what could have been... you know, if only some A&R man took the courage. CHEESE are playing a sort of soft rock with an indie character and DODGY will more than once be in the memory. Of course Pink Hedgehog can release thousands of records like this (and probably it won´t change the state of success) but be thankful there are people like Simon around!

Reviewed in The Original Sin by Didier Becu, BELGIUM

The God-awful title might have you thinking that this is a comedy album, or a collection of novelty songs. Actually it's a pristine power-pop gem following in the footsteps of THE RASPBERRIES, THE POSIES and BIG STAR, coming straight out of Detroit... er, I mean Dorset. Let It Brie is a collection of studio tracks, home recordings and rehearsals laid down between 1994 and 1997, so it's not a "proper" album as such, yet it hangs together extremely well. That it does so is testament to the quality of the material on display, from the Beatlesque harmonies of 'We Have All The Time In The World' to the CHEAP TRICK joie de vivre of 'Popular Music'. The shimmering guitar lines recall early TEENAGE FANCLUB, and boast more hooks than the North Sea fishing fleet. Let It Brie simply harnesses the sound of a band enjoying what they're doing, and that makes it a joy to listen to.

Reviewed at Spydaradio by Alan Downes, UK

CHEESE ist die Band um Songwriter Marco Rossi, der seine Brötchen auch noch als Gitarrist des schottischen KEVIN McDERMOTT ORCHESTRA verdient. Let it Brie ist eine Zusammenstellung von vierzehn Songs, die er zusammen mit Rich Murphy, Chris Page und Alan Strabridge zwischen 1994 und 1997 an diversen Lokationen aufgenommen hatte. Deswegen klingen die Songs auch aufnahmetechnisch unterschiedlich, was aber nur unwesentlich ins Gewicht fällt, weil Rossi ein kompetenter Songschreiber ist. Ganz in der Tradition von CROWDED HOUSE, DEL AMITRI, den BEATLES oder BRAD JONES schreibt er melodiöse Popnummer, zuweilen mit einem Touch Psychedelic, die angenehm in den Gehörgängen kribbeln. 'Where Are They Now' oder die Low-Fi-Nummer 'Dreams Around You', beispielsweise, gehen runter wie Butter. Der Albumtitel Let it Brie und Songs wie 'Forever Dumb' oder 'It’s Allright, You Will Be Dead Soon' zeigen CHEESE zudem als angenehme Humoristen. Let there be CHEESE!

Reviewed in Opussy by Robert Pally, SWITZERLAND

CHEESE must be one of those bands that grew up on classic rock stations and delight in recreating it with new tunes and loud OASIS-type brilliance (without the ego and with more humor, thank you). In the words of CHEESE: "Underworld rumors suggest that the characteristic CHEESE sound, based largely on the twin-guitar templates patented by TOM VERLAINE & RICHARD LLOYD, Revolver-era LENNON & HARRISON, ANDY PARTRIDGE & DAVE GREGORY and ZOOT HORN ROLLO & ANTENNAE JIMMY SEMENS is mutating into something altogether gentler and more peculiar...JIM WEBB, THE ASSOCIATION and THE LEFT BANKE in a big soup tureen with THE NAZZ." Understand now? Well, Let It Brie brews up 50 minutes and 14 tracks that kick the Friends theme out of the park, I mean tracks like 'Unhinged Melody' need to be required listening. The quick lead electric guitar minus the distortion, the bright TURTLES-like singing, drums made fresh that day, there's little to complain about. Except maybe the deceptive CD cover and back cover art which is too DIY to really do justice to the pound of bright mid-60s sound you're going to hear inside.

'Where Are They Now' is an odd one. I know I've heard it before, yet I'm sure I haven't. True, it's got that WHO sorta sound, but that's not what I mean. It's one of those genius song-hooks that is immediately classic. Could be the chord progression, but it's what's done with it too. Like THE BEATLES' 'Birthday,' it's just one of those things that pops up without warning and goes straight to the memory bank. CHEESE = Rich Murphy, Marco Rossi, Alan Strawbridge, Chris Page. Wish I could find more info on this heady, energetic band. Tried their website, not much. Had a peak in the CD booklet, but opening up, all I get are 2 pictures. Doesn't really matter. The music is king on a CD, otherwise, what's the point? And there's more than enough to keep you interested and in speeding tickets for quite a while. Lovely, like Combos: hard not to finish once the bag's open.

Reviewed in Music Dish by Ben Ohmart, USA

CHEESE seems like an apt name for a band with such flagrantly sugary hooks and the gall to release an album called Let It Brie. But don't write them off as lightweight; CHEESE are the real thing. Their music is guitar-driven power-pop with melodies galore. Let It Brie, a compilation of songs released during the band's original lifespan of 1994 to 1997, is filled with hooks, harmonies and fantastic songs. Kicking off with 'Popular Music', a catchy take on the force of pop music with a sarcastic/critical bite, the album then proceeds through 13 other pop/rock numbers and ballads. There's 'Late', a slow, sweet melodic number; 'Big Hit', which is reminiscent of XTC with more power chords; the snappy 'It's Alright, You'll Be Dead Soon' and much more. These are lively pop-rock songs but they also have a take on the world that's both humorous and honest. They're fun songs, but they're also about life and feeling lost in it, about the world and making sense of it, about relationships and getting them right. "We're all experiments god hasn't finished with yet," lead singer Alan Strawbridge sings on 'Meaningful Meaningless'. That's the attitude lurking throughout: we're not complete, we're not perfect, but hey, things are pretty much alright. It won't hurt your life any to fill your head with songs as tuneful as CHEESE's, either; this is good stuff.

Reviewed in Erasing Clouds by Dave Heaton, USA

Culled from recordings spread over 1994-1997, Let It Brie is an excellent summary of CHEESE’s assimilation of early 80s sophisticated guitar pop from the UK. Serious fans of that illuminating era will have absolutely no problem with identifying the obvious influences on CHEESE’s fine material. Swindon’s finest, XTC, figure prominently in tracks like 'Where Are They Now', 'He’s Hardly Office Material/All Change', 'Big Hit', 'Wyke Five-O' and the sardonic 'Popular Music'. By that same token the spiky, clipped rhythms of THE BUZZCOCKS, WIRE and THE POLICE are also evident on numbers like 'Everybody’s Gone', 'Unhinged Melody' and 'It’s Alright, You’ll Be Dead Soon'. Inevitably, psychedelic elements (ala SYD BARRETT/ROBIN HITCHCOCK) rear its wiggy heads on 'All The Wrong Drugs', 'Meaningful Meaningless' and 'All the Time In The World'. Fittingly perhaps, CHEESE’s finest three minutes (thus far) arrives at track no. 3, the rather shimmering, dream pop ballad 'Late'. Charming and melancholy, if anything it recalls the erudite touch of 10CC, a shiny gem of pop majesty! If indeed, you are a sucker for XTC-inspired bands (e.g. BLUR, MARTIN NEWELL, SUGARPLASTIC, JELLYFISH etc) then, I highly recommend Let It Brie.

Reviewed in The Power Of Pop by Kevin M Mathews, SINGAPORE

My old mate Tim Jones, over at Stone Premonitions, has been raving about this CD for quite a while now, and I've been prevented from finding out why due to the sheer amount of CDs we've had in of late. I do try and review CDs in the order that I get them, and after such a long time, I finally got around to getting the thing spinning, and guess what, Tim's correct. This is a stunning cd, and being a compilation, it goes a long way to showing the diversity and development of the band that is CHEESE.

There's a total of 14 tracks in all, and the variety makes one wonder at times if this is the same band! At times we have intelligent pop, clever and catchy chord sequences makes for many comparisons to bands such as JELLYFISH and XTC, especially on the track 'He's Hardly Office Material/All Change'. The first track, 'Popular Music' even has a Chris Squire sounding bass! 'Everybody's' Gone is incredibly well structured, indeed, if a comparison to a story was made, this has one hell of a plot with a sensible beginning, middle and end. There's very much a sense of 60s bubbling under most of the tracks, but with better production. Acoustic, power chords, incredibly good harmonies and some great drumming can be found on almost all the tracks, and my only two minus points are that the song titles are a little hard to read/work out (but that's probably my age!) and the second minus point is why haven't I heard of this band before - rather like the cover for some odd reason, I'm sure I've worked there!

Reviewed in Modern Dance by Dave W Hughes, UK

Really good melodic guitar pop with guts. It's a whole lot better than the jokey band name and album title suggest. The songs were recorded between 1994 and 1997 and it seems the band no longer exists, which is a terrible shame as this album is brilliant. Nice colourful painting on the cover too. CHEESE may have split, but there's still THE LUCKY BISHOPS, the band Rich and Al from CHEESE are also in. They have a self-titled album on Woronzow, which contains similarly melodic and powerful pop which occasionally ventures into a more prog-tinged rock territory. Also recommended.

Reviewed in Aquamarine by Kim Harten, UK

Spectacularly priced UK-import (and wonderfully silly title), CHEESE were an unknown London based pop band from 1994-97 that few heard of for whatever reasons. Shocking because this 14 track compilation is delicious to the ear and filled with a host of influences spread throughout the tracks. Although the fourteen tracks favor 70s influences like 10CC, BIG STAR and 80s influences like XTC and 90's influences like Canada's THE NINES, the clever originality of the band makes its own favorable impression on the listener. The band features two of the guys who went on to become LUCKY BISHOPS (whose CD is not to be missed, as well) and one from KEVIN McDERMOTT ORCHESTRA, as well, and the careful craft and care exhibited on these tracks are blended glistening guitar twists and equally shiny vocals. A London music scribe wrote way back when about the band, "I once read a critic who said it's unprofessional to lavish too much praise on a band's CD.... Bullshit! I call 'em as I hear 'em. This CD is an album I can't say enough about! The band sounds like a mix of MEGACITY 4, 10CC (w/ a big bite) and BADFINGER without sounding like carbon copies of these groups. Excellent, catchy, sometimes poignant songwriting abounds with pristine vocals and harmonies". Ambitious without cluelessness of a marketplace, this is brilliantly crafted power pop that is a surefire, dead-on winner for Not Lamers!

Reviewed for Not Lame Recordings by Bruce Brodeen, USA

I once read a critic who said "it's unprofessional to lavish too much praise on a band's CD" (I'm paraphrasing what he said from memory). Bullshit! I just call 'em like I hear 'em. And Let It Brie by CHEESE is an album that I can't say enough about! The band sounds like a mix of MEGACITY 4, 10CC and BADFINGER without sounding like a carbon copy of these groups. Excellent, catchy, sometimes poignant songwriting abounds with pristine vocals and harmonies. From the opening track, 'Popular Music' you are hooked - it is the prototype CHEESE song - a fascinating intertwining of glistening, catchy guitar riffs, upfront & melodic bass and luscious harmonies.

There ain't a bad song in the bunch. 'Late' is moody and dreamlike, with beautiful, 10CC-like harmonies. 'He's Hardly Officer Material' blends social commentary with power-pop. And 'Forever Dumb' is just plain fun in a silly lyrical way. But it's not all fast pop - CHEESE have also mastered the acoustic ballad on 'All Change' & 'Meaningful Meaningless'. You even get a British version of California surf music on 'Wyke-Five-O' and psychedelic pop on 'All the Wrong Drugs' (which contains the cool wordplay of "cold turkey for Christmas, humble pie for you"). Although released in 2001, Let it Brie is a compilation of songs from the band between 1994-97. I just hope that the band continues... it would be a pity to lose future music by CHEESE!

Reviewed in Ear Candy by Ronnie Dannelley, USA

What a great record! Great songs, excellent performances and extremely well recorded! We hear loads of stuff from all over the place these days, as no doubt you do yourself, but the CHEESE CD is most definitely up there in the top ten that we have heard in recent years. It particularily struck a chord with us. Wonderful songs with a truly unique approach and a great sound. Extremely interesting chord progressions and all brilliant musicians creating a very exciting experience. Infact, I would go as far as to say that 'Everybodys Gone' is one of my favourite tracks of all time. It really is a very good atmospheric/original and quite unique album.

Email from Tim and Terri~B at Stone Premonitions, UK

I received the CHEESE CD last week from Not Lame and am simply blown away by how excellent it is! I buy a lot of power pop CD's and I was simply stunned at how good Let it Brie is. I have several friends that I'll be enlightening this coming weekend and I know they'll be equally impressed.

Email from a satisfied customer, USA

I just received the new CD by a UK band called CHEESE, entitled Let It Brie. This is one great CD - quirky power pop with delicious melodies and chord changes, kinda reminding me of THE NINES meets THE CHURCH, with some XTC thrown in.

Posted on the Audities newsgroup by David Bash, USA

14 track retrospective of mid-90's UK band. Plenty of hooks, melodies, jangly guitars and harmonies! Think THE NINES, XTC and a poppier DIESEL PARK WEST! Features members of THE LUCKY BISHOPS. Great!

Reviewed for Kool Kat Musik by Ray Gianchetti, USA

Quite outstanding rock music, in an XTC vein from 94-97 on this excellent British label. This foursome has the hooks and chops to really satisfy.

Reviewed by DJ Don Campau, USA

UK pop rock... far away from any arogant brit-pop boredom! CHEESE is one of the rare update UK pop rock that really hits me... I wish I had a daily radioshow to put some of their songs on rotation.

Reviewed by DJ Lord Litter, GERMANY