Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
Supergroup The Syncopation Rebels (Martha Johnson, Mark Gane, Chloe Kay, Alex Exists, John Orpheus) Reimagine Goldfrapp's 'Number 1'

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Supergroup The Syncopation Rebels (Martha Johnson, Mark Gane, Chloe Kay, Alex Exists, John Orpheus) Reimagine Goldfrapp's 'Number 1'
The Syncopation Rebels
Fri Jan 10, 2025
Cashbox Canada

Choosing a song to put your own signature or stamp on can be daunting. One often has to walk the line between not being a mirror image of the original but not going overboard and completely renovating the arrangement. For the highbrow pop super group known as The Syncopation Rebels, they've walked that line perfectly with a stunning cover of Goldfrapp's "Number 1." It's guaranteed to leave you putting the song in rotation if not on a loop.

The group, consisting of Toronto-based Martha and the Muffins' members Martha Johnson and Mark Gane, British-born and British-based vocalist Chloe Kay (formerly of electronic duo This Sound Will Save You), Toronto-based musician Alex Exists (The Nursery, The Ruby Spirit) and Trinidad-born, Kitchener, Ontario-based hip-hop/Afrobeat artist and author John Orpheus, have outdone themselves here. While Goldfrapp's version released in 2005 is fueled by its synth groove, The Syncopation Rebels' "Number 1" ups the ante by upping the tempo.

"My initial reaction after hearing the original version by Goldfrapp was that we should speed up the tempo and vary the underlying chord structure a bit, which helped with the dynamics and arrangement," Gane says. "The unique tonalities and personalities of the singers really helped to add different colours to the song as well."

"This track radiates that unmistakable Bolan-esque cool, capturing the carefree energy of summer nights when you and your partner feel on top of the world," Exists adds. "It's a bold, unapologetic love anthem about showing someone they're your number one and you'd do anything to prove it. It's a song made for those moments when love feels invincible."

"Number 1" shines thanks to the shimmering, summery feel and cavity-inducing structure. The female/male dual vocals throughout bring to mind bands like Stars, Roxette, and The Human League as Johnson, Gane, Orpheus, Exists and Kay all provide vocals to the jewel with a chorus that's pure synth pop heaven. As Johnson says, Exists added "his cool crooner voice," Orpheus "sang his verse with warmth and richness" while she "added a layer of temptation to my delivery" of the suggestive lyrics. "We all circled around the mic for the choruses, putting a cherry on top of this sundae song. When Chloe sang her haunting contribution in her home studio in the UK, it lifted the song into another plane."

open.spotify.com/track/2cHZ2PXfZ3ofVPSXpeuuLR

Gane also provides electric guitar, while Exists adds piano and acoustic guitar. Mike Schlosser (who produced, recorded, and mixed "Number 1") played keyboards, bass, electric guitars, percussion, and added programming while Joel Jeschke played drums. "Number 1," written by Alison Goldfrapp and William Owen Gregory and from Goldfrapp's Supernature album, was recorded this past summer at Edmonton's Little Noise and Toronto's Revolution Recording. Reuben Ghose mastered the track at Toronto's Mojito Mastering.

"Number 1" is the second release by The Syncopation Rebels who formed for Popguru Sound & Vision's silver anniversary. With the members having worked together in various combinations over the years, Schlosser, a JUNO-nominated producer, had previously worked with Orpheus, Exists, and Kay. From there Johnson and Gane, who also worked with the other members over the years, were invited to participate in the group (which originally included Sam Casey, who Kay replaced). The Syncopation Rebels' cover of Bowie's "Sound And Vision," released in October 2023, garnered over half a million YouTube views.

A video for "Number 1" was produced by Moon Real Media and directed by Agata Waclawska and features three riders on Vespas and the group members in different locales. But for now, The Syncopation Rebels will have to resign themselves to the fact they've enhanced an already brilliant song whose title will mirror its chart placement.

thesyncopationrebels.bandcamp.com/track/number-1
instagram.com/thesyncopationrebels/

Reviews
Album
The Syncopation Rebels
Martha and the Muffins
Chloe Kay
Alex Exists
John Orpheus
Month: Feb 2022
HemlockHotel HemlockHotel Release Smooth-Rocking, Melodic New Single, “Angry Young Man”
Spirit Trail Folk Duo Spirit Trail Pay Tribute to the Enduring Power of Standing Rock…
SuperTonic Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson, Indie Pop-Rockers SuperTonic Are “Wide Awake”…
Steve Poltz's Stardust & Satellites Album Out Now Steve Poltz's Stardust & Satellites Album Out Now
Guitarist/Composer James Brown Releases Song Within The Story Guitarist/Composer James Brown Releases Song Within The Story
Month: Mar 2022
Ileen Laura Christian Artist Ileen Laura Shakes Off Anxiety & Self-Doubt In…
Carlo Capobianco Pop Artist Carlo Capobianco is “Sleeping With The Enemy” with the Release of New Single
The Dirty Beat Canada’s The Dirty Beat Release New Supersonic Single, “Birds”
There’s Been an “Attack of the 50ft Woman” with the New Single Release by Douglas Von Irvin’s Carnival There’s Been an “Attack of the 50ft Woman” with the New Single Release by…
Rawmny Wildcat Hip-Hop Artist Rawmny Wildcat Unleashes Triumphant New Powerhouse Anthem in “…
Donné Roberts 2x JUNO Winner Donné Roberts Celebrates City Life & Neighbourly Love with…
Alt-Rockers The High Loves Bask in Warm Feelings of Trust in Sunny "Sure of It" Alt-Rockers The High Loves Bask in Warm Feelings of Trust in Sunny "Sure of It"
Ottawa Artist Ash Ravens Serenades the Soul with Warm & Bittersweet “Home” Ottawa Artist Ash Ravens Serenades the Soul with Warm & Bittersweet “Home”
Alt.Rockers Blackout Orchestra Release New Dream-Like Smooching-Inducing “Tongues” Alt.Rockers Blackout Orchestra Release New Dream-Like Smooching-Inducing “…
Alexis Taylor Canadian Country-Pop Artist Alexis Taylor Is Far From Comfort In “Long Way From…

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 60
  • Page 61
  • Page 62
  • Page 63
  • Current page 64
  • Page 65
  • Page 66
  • Page 67
  • Page 68
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers