Abs

ABS
"ABSTRACT THEORY"
(BMG/Japan, 2003)


"Turn Me Up"


Turkish-Irish singer Richard Breen, better known by his nickname Abs (which comes not from having a well-developed six-pack of tummy muscles, but rather from his middle name, Abidin), is thusfar the only former member of UK boyband Five to have released a solo album. Given that I'm not terribly fond of rap, and that he was one of the two rappers in the group, I was not enthusiastic about picking up the album and spent over a year deliberating whether or not to do so -- despite the fact that Five are my favorite boyband of all time.

I'm glad I finally let myself be persuaded by the reviews that described the album as being much more R&B/pop than rap, and also as having plenty of enjoyable songs, because it turns out they were right. "Miss Perfect" makes a deliciously dancey joint out of the dubious idea of getting caught with another woman ... "Back To The Limbo" is the ultimate Latin-flavored party song ... "Rain" is a ballad that would make Usher proud ... "Emotional" has a sensually pulsating groove that makes it the most interesting song on the album ... and "Angel" is a simply beautiful closing track.

Abs uses samples to varying degrees on several of the tracks, which is something I normally don't care for, but I must admit he employs them effectively ... even "Shame" and "Spin" (extensive re-workings of classic songs "It's a Shame" and "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", respectively) are quite enjoyable. Abs also knows how to choose his guest female vocalists, in this case Nodesha on "Miss Perfect" and Eve on "7 Ways", who complement his vocals quite well (which often take on the quasi-rap singing style of Craig David).

All in all, "Abstract Theory" is a thoroughly entertaining album, and Abs puts on quite a show. I should have known, since even a rap-intolerant music fan like me doesn't mind hearing him bust a rhyme every now and then.