Frank Popp
Powers Popp: Yeah, baby, yeah! If your mojo is working, then your bachelor pad should already be stuffed with elpees by such retro-heads as Pizzicato Five and United Future Organisation. Now, make room on your gramophone player for a new international man of mystery, set to take over from Austin himself as the most shagadelic soul in modern pop culture. Frank Popp hails from Germany, but he's got that swinging Sixties London go-go groove down so pat he could have come shimmying straight outta Carnaby Street. With his groovetastic backing band, The Frank Popp Ensemble, this dashing, dandy bandleader is conquering the world with his cool, retro sounds and sharp, eye-catching graphics.
Jockey club: As a young hepcat, Popp discovered the joys of The Beatles and Elvis and set off on a lifelong quest to collect the best in '60s and '70s music on vinyl. He moved to Dusseldorf as a teenager and started deejaying at the city's famous Unique club, spinning a mix of '60s soul, Hammond grooves, past and future funk, garage, rock and freakbeat. Popp dressed for the part, turning out in smart, colourful trouser suits and chelsea boots, his hair coiffed in vintage Vidal Sassoon style. Soon he was in demand at London's 100 Club and Blow-Uip Club, Hamburg's Hip Cat club, Munich's Atomic Café, Milan's Boogaloo and Tokyo's Mod Mayday. Never afraid to dress up in the name of music, Popp also developed a DJ alter-ego, Maria Ghoerls, as an outlet for his interest in punk-funk, electro and digital disco.
Magnificent seven: Although he had all the grooviest tunes of the past and present at his fingertips, Popp wanted to make his own music, so he recruited guitarists Lele Lugosi and Freddie Rococo, bassist Tino Turner, organist Stephan Mohr and drummer Adam Kroll to form the Ensemble. So far, so groovy, but Popp's trump card was vocalist Sam Leigh-Brown, who sounds like Lulu crossed with St Etienne's Sarah Cracknell. The band's first release, The Catwalk EP, was an elegant mix of samples, horns, Hammonds and vocals; a second single, Hip Teens Don't Wear Blue Jeans, set the style code for a new generation of groovy gunslingers. Another song, High Voltage, was used on the soundtrack for Swordfish, starring John Travolta. A graphic designer by trade, Popp took charge of the artwork for the band's records, posters and publicity material, ensuring that the visuals reflected the band's retro vibe.
Mullet it be: The band's first official UK release, The Swinging Library Sounds of The Frank Popp Ensemble, was released in May. The new, self-titled album is out next week and features such funktastic tunes as Touch and Go, Mullet King, Psychedelic Girl, Goo Goo Muck and the new single, Love Is on Our Side.
