THE BEAUTY ROOM – THE BEAUTY ROOM (PEACEFROG)
June 9th, 2006 by rui
The Beauty Room first grabbed my attention in 2005 with their single ‘Don’t You Know’ on New Religion, a cover of an obscure Jan Hammer song, but one that has that rare combination of pop accessibility and jazz sophistication, (as well as pioneering use of the moog synthesizer). It turned out to be the new project of the much mispelt Kirk Degiorgio, Essex soul boy turned electronica pioneer, who is probably best known for his As One album on Mowax and his short-lived A.R.T. label (neatly compiled on the Objets D’Art collection).
He was also one third of the legendary R-Solution show on Kiss FM in the ’90s that introduced the further reaches of soul and jazz to a new generation. And after two decades of immersion in quality music he has finally made an album which is going to make history.
Instrumental music is fine, but the way to people’s hearts is through a truly great vocal performance. In Jinadu, Kirk has discovered a truly great singer, and the four-part vocal harmonies are absolutely outstanding as well. The prominent Fender Rhodes and soulful vocals do bring Zero 7 to mind, but The Beauty Room have the potential to be even better. Other tracks bring to mind Brian Wilson, Steely Dan or CSN&Y and other once-unfashionable influences from the ’70s. You can easily imagine it on mainstream radio, in fact I think radio will go insane for this band.
I like music that’s got some substance, and the word commercial doesn’t usually signify quality to me. But once in a blue moon comes a record that has the potential to become a classic and touch the hearts of millions, and this is one of them.
‘The Beauty Room’ by The Beauty Room, will be released in September, on Peacefrog.
