Where is DJ D-Sharp and who is the lady in the band? These are two questions that fans of Flipsyde, the band who gave us the huge hits Someday and Spun are trying to find out. Is it a carbon copy of the super successful Black Eyed Peas? Or just trying to be like the BEPs? All know that BEPs were almost a flop before Fergie, so will the addition of Chantelle Paige to the lineup of Steve Knight, Dave Lopez, Jinho "the Piper" Ferreira, make anything new? Mixing together rap, hip – hop, R & B and dashes of rock to political awareness, and introspection, into their music once again, Flipsyde utilize their diverse backgrounds to create ambitious, revolutionary music that not only stands out but reaches out to a large number of people.

On this album the Oakland band sizzle on half of the 13 tracks. Though he does not feature on any of the tracks, hip hop star Akon has produced three tracks and has also helped the band release and distribute the album on his record label. ‘State of Survival’ lifts off with the lingering tune of When it was good that focuses on just this feeling. After a very good start there’s also ‘Spinnin’ which is packed with a very lingering chorus. You sure won’t miss it out.

All the songs are written by the band and the highlights are One Love that does not talk about love, rather about politics and politicians like John Kennedy. There’s a song for American’s Olympic Team, Champion, championed by Akon and means just about being the champion. (What else?) This is the life describes the life we lead, how our planet is filled with cowards, victims, love and also talks about sand in Sudan and Woods in Rwanda. Welcome to Hollywood talks about the life in Hollywood, the life of a star and the life he leads. It’s a very different topic, sensible and co-written by Akon and Colby O’ Dennis.

Chantelle excels on the vocal front and fills in at the right places. She is brilliant on When it was good, Spinnin’, Change, with Green light a bonus track being one of the toppers for the new member. The auto tune is in use once again and it’s in the Akon produced Toss it up and also on One Love. There’s a lot of rapping happening all around and needless to say with Akon heading the boys it’s an overdose. The soft ballad If you really love me is welcome and soothing from the otherwise dance infected album. ‘One Love’ has heavy rapping, good lyrics and great dance beats that are top notch. The rapping is aka Eminem style. ‘High on life’ has got a good bass line and neat vocals by Chantelle and Piper.

Flipsyde has tried every genre they are good at and bring out a fairly good album, though not completely 100 per cent. The clubby Spinnin’, Green Light and Toss It Up to the bouncy High on Life, and the pacy State of Survival takes you on a Flipsyde journey that has well begun and will continue. Paige on lead vocals, Piper on vocals, Steve on vocals and acoustic guitar and Dave on lead guitar, surely give BEPs stiff competition. But Flipsyde will have to really hit hard with more catchy stuff to overcome the well heeled hip hoppers of BEPs.

Hardcore fans of the band will love the album and pick it up, though newcomers may wander around, listen to parts of it online or lease it out and then decide if they need to own their own copy. Surely we the people can decide on it. As for DJ D – Sharp, well all we can say is no more with the band and probably on the way to a successful career as a DJ.

Rating: *****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira