Ghent brass band Brazzmatazz was formed in 2014, released their debut EP in 2015, expanded to a 12-piece band for their first album in 2018, released a live set in 2021 and is now even larger, an 18-strong leviathan. Whenever someone buys their music, each member will receive only a pittance, so they hope people purchase a lot!
The album’s first single and video appeared last year; for an upbeat band, they are certainly in no hurry. Clockwork Concerto intersperses scenes of the band dressing for a concert, donning outfits that look like something from a cyberpunk Renn Faire, creating a giant clock wheel, and performing in front of an eager, bouncy audience. Various members take their time to shine, starting with a sax solo and continuing with a slow, jazzy trumpet interlude. Before long, everyone is dancing again, on stage and off.
Second single “Walk the Plank” is where the band captured our attention; the video was featured in our Spring Music Preview. Here the band’s ebullience is on full display as they dress up, act out and take a tour of the docks, to the delight (and perhaps slight befuddlement) of passers-by. In the Bandcamp liner notes, Brazzamatazz goes full-on pirate. There’s a touch of Madness in the visuals, while the timbre will appeal to fans of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Hippos and Reel Big Fish. The shouts of “Walk the Plank” may lead to the song becoming a TikTok sensation; we certainly hope so (and it would help to feed the band, who uses up a lot of calories). There’s a plaintive breakdown after all but two are arrested, the leftovers drifting away slowly as a duo.
But wait, there’s more! Crank Up the Pressure jumps right in with the chanty, handclappy title track, a party song if we’ve ever heard one (“Ho! Hey! Ya!”). Sometimes two players get solos at once; with a band this big, there’s no avoiding it. “Fistycuffs” has the feel of a play fight between good friends, faking the tension for an audience. The Bond-esque “Ocular Phenomenon” breaks down to expose a bank of cheers, while “Losbandigheid” begins with laughter and showcases a bongo solo before doubling its tempo and halving it again. Everyone is having a literal blast.
Due to their contagious energy, we can see Brazzmatazz being a huge concert attraction. “Puppet Play” seems like the obvious choice for a third single, due to its eight-note earworm, wordless bar room singalong, numerous tempo changes and happy handclaps. What else does one need as the summer starts and one finds time to hang out with one’s mates? “Barrage” may appeal to fans of A Comet Is Coming, helping the band to cross over to yet another audience. This may end up being the happiest album of the year. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 