Zumba ® Fitness (Game)

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If you have haven’t heard of Zumba® before reading this review, where have you been? Zumba is the dance fitness craze that’s been sweeping the world and now you can bring the experience to your living room with the release of Zumba® Fitness: The Video Game.

Okay, so this isn’t the first way to bring Zumba® into your home, there is of course the DVD set that you’ve maybe seen on the late night screenshops. Originally released for Xbox Kinnect, the game then received its ports for the Wii and Playstation 3. Instead of using a camera to track your moves, you get the lovely fitness belt into which you slot your Wii Remote or Playstation Move controller (one fitness belt is provided in the box. Additional belts can be purchased from ZumbawearUK, official Zumbawear stockist in the UK!)

The game features what could probably class as standard Zumba® tracks, some that you may even recognise if you’ve been to any classes. Following the on screen instructors you can work your way through either a single song or a set of varying lengths, depending on how your feeling or what your time allows. The more you move, the more you fill the bar which unlocks more ‘backing dancers’.

There’s one issue that presents itself and that is that the remote only tracks the hip movement meaning that movement from, ‘above the belt’ probably isn’t credited, or at least, credited properly

It is a fun game that takes up to four players allowing for you to hold your own Zumba® party in your living room. With 30 routines, some exclusive to the game, there’s plenty to go through and has routines suited for all skill levels. It’s a good fill in for those between class moments although if you haven’t maybe ventured to a class, you may find this hard to get into. Perseverance is the key here and you’re certain to have fun at the same time, especially if done with friends or family

Wonderland // Wonderland

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 iTunes

If you haven't heard of Wonderland, then where have you been. If not, then let's give you a brief re-cap; Wonderland are the latest girl band export from Ireland and are managed by Louis Walsh and Kian Egan (yes, Kian of Westlife!). Now we have that out the way, let's look at the album release.

First off, instead of having some fancy title, it's simply a self-titled debut. The first two tracks are the first singles that many have probably heard (Not A Love Song and Starlight) before heading into the beautiful ballad, Nothing Moves Me Anymore. From here it is a cover of the multi-Grammy award winning song by Lady Antebellum, Need You Now, which while it is good, it doesn't hold a light to the original.

Onto a filler track, in the form of In Your Arms. It's a generic girl group track that is likely to drive you crazy with it's chorus (I don't wanna go, wanna go, I don't wanna go/ I don't wanna leave, wanna leave, don't you ever leave/ I just wanna stay, wanna stay, let me lie in your arms tonight) and that's only on the first play. Is It Just Me is another slow before heading into the hauntingly beautiful Why Here Why Now. The next track, another slow number titled Time Has Run Out, feels more like an album closing track rather than it's position on the album.

Fast paced Emergency is next (and has recently been iTunes Single of the Week!) but you can't help being left feeling like there's subliminal advertising in the lyrics (Ibuleave anyone?) and it's just the uptempo track that we've been waiting for. Too soon though it's back to the ballad's with It could Be You. Foot tapping is required for the next track Get Your Boots On before the requirements turn to swaying for When The Stars Turn Blue. The final track is another cover, this time in the form of the Adele hit, Rolling In The Deep, which they again, make a good attempt on, but only really Adele can sing this to it's true potential.

Looking at the album, it feels like he song selection has been a playing safe and leaving no doubt that the girls can sing ballads. The second half of the album feels a little all over the place, alternating between fast and slow. As a debut, it fulfils it's purpose, but it feels like it could have been more. Hopefully this is just a scratching of the surface an that there is much more to be seen. It's just a shame that their potential hasn't been shown fully.

Rating: 3.5/5

Bentley Jones // TRANS//LATION 2

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Buy @ Official Site

It’s been two years since the release of Bentley Jones Japanese debut album, TRANS//LATION and only 6 months since Finally Free was released. But now the singer/songwriter/producer (and we’re pretty sure that he fits kitchen sinks too!) presents his brand new bi-lingual album, TRANS//LATION 2.

First off, let discuss how you can buy the album. It’s available either as a 13 track digital download or as a 14 track limited edition art CD from the official website

Now that’s out the way, here’s the next thing; this album is pretty rock and pretty loud (and you’ll gather that from the aptly named TRANS//LATION 2 introduction track. Another difference is that this album is a fair balance of English and Japanese covers, although a few are 2011 re-workings of previously released tracks ( 素直になれたら~FINAL NIGHT~, Dreams Of An Absolution, GLAMOROUS SKY)

Looking at some of the newer English tracks, they are recognisable classics from the 80s/90s (Word Up, Stay, Running Up That Hill (Deal With God)) and are true to their originals while making them Bentley's own. With regards to the Japanese tracks (JOINT, アメあと, 道～to you all, GLAMOROUS SKY, 素直になれたら), it's apparent that confidence has grown with the pronunciations compared to the debut release, which can only be a good thing.

Overall, it's a strong album with a great balance of tracks. It's more along the lines of Finally Free soundwise rather than the original TRANS//LATION (which was more dance covers and more electronic sounding). If you've maybe not encountered Bentley Jones in the past, then this is probably a good place to start.

Rating: 4/5

Mike + The Mechanics @ Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow 25th May 2011

It’s not often that a group for 25 years, but one such group is Mike + The Mechanics, who return in 2011 with a new album, The Road and a tour, which rolled into Glasgow on the 25th of May.

Supporting the main act was Scarlette Fever, who, for a change in support acts, actually had the same sort of sound as the main act.  Powering through a strong set of songs from her album Medication Time including Crash & Burn, Black & White, Good Day. and Cheating Man For those that wished, there was an opportunity to buy the album and meet the artist at the interval whilst the stage was set up for the main act.

The show opened with the title track from the new album, The Road which introduced the two new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar. Mike Rutherford welcomed and introduced himself and the band, before heading  Beggar On A Beach Of Gold which was interesting to hear Tim Howar take lead vocals on, but he did the song proud. This was straight into Get Up, before slowing it down to beautiful version of Try To Save Me which Andrew Roachford on lead vocals and keyboards. From here it was a couple of older songs from the extensive catalogue; Nobody Knows, Another Cup Of Coffee and I Don't Do Love.

If I Were You (from the album, Rewired) is next and Mike explains that when the song was original written, it was done so to be sung as a duet. Andrew takes the male while Tim takes on what would be the female section. There's a slight detour here as Roachford performs one of his own songs, Only To Be With You. From this it's straight into Follow You, Follow Me and I Can't Dance, not Mike + The Mechanics songs but songs from Mike's “other band”, Genesis.

Next is a song that probably everyone knows and maybe one of the most well known Mike + The Mechanics, and that is The Living Years. It doesn't take much for the audience to join in with the backing singing on the chorus. After this was another well known song, being Over My Shoulder and I Need A Miracle. All left the stage and, as is customary, the chanting began to get the group back on stage.
On coming back, Andrew Roachford performs his song Cuddly Toy, that finally got everyone to their feet for a little dance. The night finished with what, Tim Howar explained was a traditional ending to a concert. This is of course, Word Of Mouth, which ended up with lots arm waving and singing along in traditional Scottish behaviour.

Overall it was a fantastic night, let down only by the number of people who turned out for the gig (only the stall appeared to have been sold). For those who hesitated in going, it was their loss. Andrew and Tim, although being new to the group treated the back catalogue with the respect it deserved whilst bring their own unique twist on it to make them theirs, and the new material sounded fantastic live. The one complaint; why does Mike Rutherford make playing the guitar look like a walk in the park? If you get a chance, do get to see them live.

Photos © Vhari Lannigan

Scarlette Fever
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Buy @ Play.com | iTunes

Mike + The Mechanics
Buy @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ Amazon.co.uk
Buy @ Play.com | iTunes