Trash-pop gets a revival on the self-titled debut album by the British five-piece group, Republica.
Fronted by the the Nigerian woman Saffron, this eleven track album flirts with the alternative and dance scenes while combining the best of both those worlds. The infectious leadoff single "Ready To Go" is represented on here in both the American and UK versions; the British one is much fuller, and more exciting; the American almost seems a safer musical track.
Where some folks might sneer at the term "trash-pop", to me it indicates a catchy sound, without deep lyrical, save-the-world, meaning. Sigue Sigue Sputnik didn't have much of a second album, and neither did Shampoo - both of these bands fall in the trash-pop genre. But for a brief moment, both groups caused quite a sensation on the European charts. Even Republica's drummer - Dave Barborossa (formerly with Bow Wow Wow and Adam Ant) - adds some validity to the characterization.
What's Republica got that these two groups didn't? A real band, and a beating soul within that band. Saffron has previously worked with the Shamen, Jah Wobble and Mark Moore, and has obviously gained from those experiences; "Get Off" is a sure-fire techno club hit, and "Bitch" (a likely second single) stays the same course as "Ready To Go" while bearing reminders of the Farm and Shamen's "Move Any Mountain".
For those looking to have fun, and looking for a disc to pop on before going to the nightclub, Republica fits the bill.
