Review – Djamel “The Whole Scene Going”

Album through Deljam Records

I’ve known Djamel as a music artist for a good six years. But there was a significant gap during that time and in that gap he has released a number of CDs, recorded in Sydney, Melbourne and the States, appeared on film and collaborated with famous and/or well known music identities. The last album was a complete surprise, seeing the last release I’d heard from him was his self-titled 1998 EP. And hot on the heels of that album is “The Whole Scene Going” through Deljam Records. 

Djamel is not backward in displaying his influences and/or favourite artists. David Bowie and John Lennon songs appear regularly on his records and listening to any of those releases would suggest these to be inspirations for his musical work as well. You might also want to add a general 1980s-pop feel, with Icehouse and Bryan Ferry / Roxy Music also featuring highly. But whilst he has grown and changed as an artist, songs from the back catalogue sound just as fresh on this album as they did when they were released (Flowers On Your Pillow appeared on that first 1996 demo, almost probably with that same dated-keyboard sound).

This album has pretty much the whole gammet in its eighteen tracks (value plus!). There are three cover-songs (Bryan Ferry’s Virginia Plain, the Bowie / Alomar / Eno collaboration DJ, and John Lennon’s I’m Losing You) and a reprise (I Used To Be A Man appears in shorter form as track 4, then makes a come-back at track 17). Obviously the man has it coming from every pore so the next record should be a double-release! Should be just as good, too «««««