Wilberforce

The Cardiacs, Stump and Jilted John. The band's songs are refreshingly varied and don't necessarily follow the traditional three-chord verse, chorus and middle eight. But the Abbey Wood-based boy juxtaposes his misery and melancholy with some witty and hilarious lyrics, such as those found in Drink, Gooseberry and the inspired Rubber Bra. With Wilberforce, there's rarely any grey areas, it's either love or hate, fun or misery, or good or bad. Check out their unusual web of songs, you won't be disappointed." "You were a great producer on this 8 track, you've got a good ear for getting the levels right (on Fruitbowl). Those harmonies sound so sweet, you sing really nice in tune. Your voice sounds so youthful, you wouldn't think you were as old as you are!"

Dave Goodman, Original S*x Pistols Producer, London, UK. "An absolute gem of an album. It is an intoxicating brew of wistful, suburban, psychedelia, mixed in with hard British realism and all the fun of the fair. Wilberforce haunt the same 'green and pleasant lands' previously inhabited by the likes of Syd Barrat, Ray Davis and John Lennon. Something typically English, but on a trajectory set for the universal. Yes, they are green and pleasant lands in the music of Mark Tingley, but the 'dark satanic mills' lurk in the shadows. The songs, which are always melodic, are peopled by a strange cast of characters, that seem extraordinary, until you realise they are beautifully drawn portraits of all the people you run in to every day in every town. I often wish there were more records like this, but then their rarity makes them that bit more special." Steve Lake, IKE and Zounds, London, UK. "Wilberforce, an entity of oddly appealing nouveau vague persuasion. Madame Fruitbowl... was Alan's principal source of in-car entertainment for several weeks." Alan Clayson's Official Web Site, Renowned Music Journalist. "Reminded me of Robyn Hitchcock". Pat Smith, Columbus, Ohio, USA. "Aural oddness... A really good English psych-pop CD." Paul Stapleton, Brighton, UK. "Just had to write and say how much I loved "Madame Fruitbowl", absolutely brilliant..." Vicky, Sidcup, Kent, UK. "UK pop at its best! Witty lyrics, unusual yet lushious harmonies, great sounding guitars..." Natalie Masse (AKA RachelAPP), London, UK. "Enjoyed some more than others. I wasn't too sure first of all, but got into it"

Wayne Livett, London, UK. "Good songwriting on the whole, heard early Floyd/Syd Barrett, Beatles, David Byrne in there..." Robert Morris, Birmingham, UK. "It is damn fine in places, there are some very good tunes on here my dear boy." Jack Burt, Actor, Slade Green, Kent, UK. "Very interesting piece of work. Words very good and some very good arrangements throughout your album. Look forward to listening to your next piece of work." Peter Kelsey, Auckland, New Zealand. "I listened to your CD a couple of days ago. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed it, and every now and then catch myself singing it!." Ali, Welling, Kent, UK. "Thanks for "Madame Fruitbowl" which I enjoyed listening to. It's very unique, musically experimental and cabaret at times! It reminds me of a mixture of things. Some of the songs I liked: Picture of You, Gooseberry, Devoid, I'm Crying, Looking For, She Didn't Understand. The SFX are good - pub background chat is really good! It made me think a bit of the Cardigans and Saint Etienne!!"

Mary Mullen, Stoke Newington, London, UK


"I'm writting this review because I have a real passion for music and arts in all forms. I am not tone deaf and luckily have had a few years classical music training. I listened to the album, I love it and a review is a way to show my respect...

I never really liked The Beatles; When Kinks came back to fame I was 3; and for a long while I thought that George Clinton was the brother of the one whom misused a cuban cigar! With that bearing in mind, theoretically I wouldn't have liked this album or Wilberforce's music, on the contrary, I like it! And it's more than just "like" it. As a matter of fact, this Madame Fruitbowl album is perhaps one of the best albums I’ve ever heard from a band that I had never previously heard of. The songs have that certain..."Je ne sais quoi" (same as the producer and Vocals/Guitars/Bass/Keyboards Mark Tingley), while being entertaining (Note: the fundamental difference between "entertaining" and "pop-trash"!), funky, eccentric, witty, groovy & slightly edgy. "Drink" (my favourite song in this album) is an outstanding opener, it sets the tune for a possibly the most fun album of all. "She Didn't Understand" is one step deeper, and by the time when we get to "Looking For", the pace has settled down nicely, well, you would have thought so, and then "Painting A Picture" comes alone, completely changes the theme. "Rubber Bra" is the most hilarious song of all time. Luckily, "I'm Crying" follows up that gives us time to catch our breath from hysterical laughter. I particularly like the "Theme From Wilberforce", which is a clever piece of intermezzo, simply delightful! Up to now, we are half way into this album. I don't know about you, to me - I cannot help but see (listen to) it more and more as a..."mini-symphony". Probably for my classical music education since early years, (and also it's safe to stick to what I know most lol). To me, Mark Tingley is a sheer genius, he set "Drink" as a perfect opening allégro, first movement; followed by "She Didn't Understand" & "Looking For" as adagio, second movement; "Painting A Picture" is the minuet and needless to say, "Rubber Bra" is born to be the scherzo! Interlude is the "Theme From Wilberforce"; Before we know it, here comes "Picture Of You" as the second part. Here, I have to take the liberty of comparing Mark Tingley's Madame Fruitbowl with Igor Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Interestingly, both has a 8/6 theme ratio. (There are six songs in Mark's second half of the album, eight songs in the first part.) "Picture Of You" to kick off as the intro, to me it's rather "sentimental", yet it adds a totally different musical slab into the "symphony"; "Gooseberry" was based on a true story according to Mark Tingley, I like the wit coming out of it; "Devoid Of Inspiration" continues this trend of dark sense of humour nicely. I have a soft spot for the next song "Apple Of My Eye", it's short & sweet, innocent & naïve. To me, it is a cute little piece of overture. "Far Away" quietly makes its entry, I have to say that it also brings sort of confusion. Going back to Stravinsky, coincidentally, "Far Away" and Rite of Spring (in second part, 5th theme: "Ritual Action of the Ancestors" - exactly same position as "Far Away") both melodies draw upon folk-like themes designed to evoke the feeling of songs passed down from ancient time, both used the elements of folk songs. (By any chance of the "Great minds think alike"?? I shall bite my tongue firmly! lol)

Finale is "Won't Bring Us Down". "Sometimes wonder where it all began" Mark Tingley sings, I'm thinking "Sometimes wonder how come it is the end?!?!". "Taking each day as it comes, making the best, having some fun" the lyric says all. The reason that I am not a big Beatles fan is that I found their music "Dull" (Sorry, Mark!) Mark Tingley's 14 songs are the opposite, they are great fun to listen to. They are witty, intelligent, bitter & sweet, in plain language but deep & meaningful. To sum up:

Two main reasons why I like this album the most: The varieties displayed by each song, the rich elements showed throughout the album.The most common fatal error made in far too many albums nowadays is: repetition. Track 1 equals track 2, 3 & 4... You wonder why on earth they bothered to make all 16 of them identical? Chellenge to our tolerance level??!! Madame Fruitbowl sets a different standard, a different level of understanding music & sound. There is the wildness to satisfy the animal in me while also providing enough thoughtful composition satiating that wandering artist philosopher inside of me that I only wished was as true in reality as it is in imagination. And plenty clever usage of the vase varieties of instruments & sounds that surprises me. There are 100s of Alternatives indies bands out there, they sound...similar if not same! (you know what I mean & you know I'm telling the truth!) Mark Tingley certainly has his own road, his own idea, his own sound and his Madame Fruitbowl doesn't deserve to be classified as a “it's like... such and such....meets...such and such”. It's catchy, it's witty, it's audacious, it's eccentric, it's addictive... It demonstrates Mark's undisputed talent very nicely. I'm privileged!"

Ronnie Tidy