Another Time Another Place

Album Review

After numerous vocal and instrumental incarnations (including an early album with Basia and Danny White), the Engish blue eyed soul band Matt Bianco is now the simple yet explosively unique tandem of vocalist Mark Reilly and keyboardist Mark Fisher. On what will surely be their breakthrough American release, the duo shares with Stateside audiences a passionate brew of elements Europe's been grooving and dancing to for a decade—touches of jazz, R&B, brassy funk, Latin bounce, synthesized charm, and a smooth vocal approach that blends brilliantly into the music. The key is in its diveristy, cool one minute, sweat inducing the next. It's easy to consider this band the all male equivalent to Swing Out Sister by virtue of its artsy, sophisticated class and seductive rhythms, and the two Marks sideswipe the listener from so many perfectly conceived stylistic approaches that the effect is wild and dizzying, invigorating yet perfectly relaxing, great for shaking your booty and then cozying up later to your dance partner. Even with a few unnecessary rap interludes, adult alternative music has never been more dazzling.