The only thing I knew about Steve Rinaldi was that he was ‘ex’ of The Moment. Not being a huge revival fan, I feared the worst. But this is nothing like that at all.

The sound of ‘What’s It All About?’ is rooted firmly in the mid to late 60s pop of big tunes with bigger arrangements - think Love Affair for example.

It’s just something of a novelty unless you have the songs to live with the arrangements - but luckily Rinaldi Sings have the tunes covered too.

Very catchy ones too, right from the aptly-titled album opener, ‘Happy’, which reminds me (not for the only time on the album) of early, brassy Dexys in arrangement.

But Steve Rinaldi is no Kevin Rowland - his is a vocal not a million miles from the Anthony Newley/early Bowie ‘London lad’ style - he can certainly hold his own in the crooning stakes!

I do hear a lot of early Bowie on here, particularly on ‘Lucky Day’, I’m sure I hear some Velvet Underground on ‘You’re Alive’ and even some Beach Boys in album closer ‘Heaven Knows’, an excellent slow builder of a tune.

The only miss for me is the cover of Avenues and Alleyways - the vocal doesn’t really hold up to the original - but with a Tony Christie revival going on, top marks for being topical!

Overall, a really nice collection of sunshine pop with a modern twist and excellent production that really makes it jump out of the stereo. Recommended.

Reviewed by David Walker (review posted on 15th April 2005)

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