The Cairo Club Orchestra is an American-type dance band based in Melbourne, Australia, comprising ten swell guys dedicated to the faithful recreation of the hot sounds of the 1920's, 30's and 40's. These committed loony tunes have sifted through archives, braved dusty, spider-filled garages and swapped scores with venerable eccentrics in Australia and overseas to locate the best in early jazz, blues, swing, talkie hits and novelty music. And when they can't physically locate the music, well some of the guys just go ahead and transcribe scores from original recordings. They all play on period instruments, and if you asked them why they do it, they'd tell you they do it because it's fun. But if you've seen the orchestra in action - you wouldn't need to ask.

So enter a world where radio is the latest in communications technology and crooners rule the airwaves; where patent medicines cure everything and Kensitas cigarettes are "a Recipe for Sunshine"; where anything wonderful is "the cat's meow" and using Rinso "saves a scuttle of coal every washday"; where flappers dare to role down their stockings and kick up their heels and a whole population dances their troubles away to the irresistible sounds of the fabulous Cairo Club Orchestra.

Further: Review by John Whiteoak