Death By Chocolate - Bric-a-Brac

Bric-a-Brac is Death By Chocolate's third full-length release, following their eponymous debut and follow-up album, Zap the World, which was nominated for the 2002 Shortlist Prize by Iggy Pop. This album is the result of a collaboration between band members based in Santa Barbara, Bristol and Colchester. Bric-a-Brac comprises thirteen tracks - eleven self-penned and two covers - as diverse as the title suggests.

Death By Chocolate's aesthetic foundation corners are firmly planted in an idealized novelty of mid-century modernism, especially early 60s abstract expressionism, definitely swinging 1967 Carnaby Street, a bit of the more fun elements of late 70s new/no wave and the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. There's also more than a hint of foodie-ism.

Bric-a-brac is an aural scrapbook written, performed, recorded and produced by Death By Chocolate. Open it up...

There's a trip around East Sussex on a BSA Bantam... we even stop for chips on the way home! Missing your departed heroes? They're back for one night only (although probably not quite as you'd care to remember).

For some, the album may well prove a useful study aid: How many Kosmonauts can you name? What are the principle uses of Xenon? What was Vincent Price eating in the early 60s? How do you plan the layout of a department store?

Musically-speaking, Death by Chocolate's third album is just as eclectic, fusing together electronica, spoken-word, jazz and psychedelia, with a dash of swingle.

Souvenir rulers, umbrellas, cricket pads... even Spit the Dog gets a look-in at the House of Bric-a-brac.

1. The Royal Danieli -1964, 2. Are You Being Served?, 3. Bric-a-Brac, 4. The Periodic Table, 5. Something for Jez, 6. My New Old Organ, 7. Amstel Hotel - 1963, 8. Kosmonaut, 9. Bantam Motorbike, 10. Hotel de la Poste - 1961, 11. Dining with Death, 12. (Another. Day Out, 13. The Antigua Hotel - 1960, 14. Untitled bonus track