Bentley Rhythm Ace - Bentley Rhythm Ace

Another tape that David copied for me in the summer of 2001, today’s entry is Bentley Rhythm Ace’s 1997 eponymous debut album. Formed in Birmingham in 1995, BRA consisted of former Pop Will Eat Itself bassist, guitarist, keyboardist and programmer Richard March, and his drinking buddy Mike Stokes. Part of the late nineties big beat scene, the duo were somewhat inevitably signed to Skint records (albeit briefly), before an arrangement was reached that saw them transfer over to Parlophone.
 
I’m not sure where I first head Bentley Rhythm Ace, I suspect it may just have been hearing ‘Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!’ on Radio 1, but I immediately liked their everything including the kitchen sink approach to music making.
 
Artist: Bentley Rhythm Ace
Album: Bentley Rhythm Ace
UK Record Label: Skint (original issue), Parlophone (re-issue)
UK Release Date: 12th May 1997 (original issue), 8th September 1997 (re-issue)
UK Single Releases from Album: ‘Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!’ (original issue), ‘Midlander (There Can Only Be One...)’ and ‘Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!’ (re-issue) / ‘Run on the Spot’
 
Opener ‘Let There Be Flutes’ is fun enough, but it’s early single ‘Midlander (There Can Only Be One...)’ where the album really kicks into gear. Repetitive drum loops, and hooters are the order of the day in this six-minute epic. That’s followed by ‘Why Is a Frog Too..?’, a track I was familiar with prior to hearing the album due to its inclusion on the NME Brat Pack ‘98 cover mount cassette. As with a lot of the tapes in the box, it’s a long time since I’ve listened to this album, but I’m enjoying listening to it again now. ‘Run on the Spot’ really is excellent, based around samples of Kurtis Blow’s ‘Do the Do’, ‘Bongo Rock ‘73’ by the Incredible Bongo Band and a cover of ‘(Blame It On) the Pony Express’ by the Tony Paterson Orchestra & Singers, it’s an incessant, catchy tune that gets lodged in your head and won’t shift. Speaking of getting lodged in your head, by far the duo’s most well-known track ‘Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out!’ is next. Even if you’re not familiar with the duo, you’ve probably heard this one before, as it’s been used in a multitude of adverts and TV shows, and the breathy “I love it” vocal sample is a staple of coming soon trailers everywhere.
 
In a way, I’m surprised this album isn’t more widely regarded. It was a moderate hit at the time (reaching number 13 in the album chart), but it’s not one you really hear much talk of nowadays, which I think is a bit of a shame. It’s interesting musically, whilst not being woefully inaccessible. Intriguing samples, squelching synths and repeating drum patterns mean it’s a fun listen, but without ever tipping over into irritating novelty.
 
We’ve only got three tracks on side B, but they’re all crackers. The ridiculously titled ‘Who Put the Bom in the Bom Bom Diddleye Bom’ is up first. Featuring British toasting legend Ranking Roger of the Beat repeating a line from the Barry Mann song ‘Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp)’ on a loop, along with various dub samples of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and King Tubby played backwards, this is gloriously silly. ‘Spacehopper’ is next, all splodgy synths and turned up filters, it’s a lot of fun. The album closer is ‘Return of the Hardcore Jumble Carbootechnodisco Roadshow’ which is perhaps the best example of BRA’s chuck in everything and see what sticks approach, strange drum loops, what sounds like sea lions and even a drum ‘n’ bass section, this is an outstanding way to close the album, and is definitely one of the highlights.
 
It’s been very enjoyable to listen back to Bentley Rhythm Ace, and I’m really glad the opportunity to do so has presented itself. The duo followed it up with 2000’s For Your Ears Only (a patchier affair, but not without its moments) before calling it a day shortly thereafter. Occasional reunions on the live stage have followed, and I can only imagine that they are a lot of fun to see in person.


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