Track Listing

1. Let the people know
2. Dancing in the moonlight
3. Achilles heel
4. Breathe
5. Do you know what your future will be
6. Only for a while
7. Higher state
8. High flying bird
9. Summer cycle
10. Just about living
11. Floating away (in the bath tub)
12. Just hold on (Bonus Track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11261 in Music
• Released on: 2001-02-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Amazon.co.uk Review
The sounds of the 70s have had a mystical and enduring hold over popular music, and with Toploader releasing their debut homage to the funk, rock and psychedelic era, there's little sign of its grasp loosening. Which--given Joseph Washborn's gravely vocal charms (think Jamiroquai's Jay Kay singing the songs of Reef), the stripped down Stevie Wonder style of "High Flying Bird" and the rock tones of the Black Crowes andLenny Kravitz on "Breathe" and "Future"--is no bad thing. Onka's Big Moka, the oddly titled debut from Eastbourne's finest quartet may not be pushing any musical boundaries, but with the gloriously uplifting "Let The People Know", the sublimely emotional outpouring of the soul that is "Achilles Heel" and the light-footed and incredibly cute party piece "Dancing In The Moonlight", it's a flawless exercise in piano bashing and guitar pop. Which again, is no bad thing. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews

Catchy catchy catchy!
Well this record is one of the biggest growers in my collection, and has become welded to my CD player. The catchiness of the music is amazing. Tracks like "Dancing in the Moonlight" and "Achilles Heel" are proving themselves to be classics. These tracks have even hit the clubbing scene, making clubbers used to dancing to hard house learn to groove around.

Joseph Washbourne's lyrics are poetic in their simplicity and the whole record seems strangely reminiscent of some of the stuff of the 70's. Unapologetically mainstream, but lightyears ahead of most of the music in the charts. It's nearly a year for this record on the album charts now, and it keeps getting higher and higher, finally hitting the top ten after Christmas and staying there.

No review could be complete without a mention of Jamie Oliver's adverts and their "Dancing in the Moonlight" backing track, which has no doubt helped bring Toploader's music to an even wider audience. All I can say is that gradually everyone in my circle of friends has bought this album. If this is being replicated all across the UK, "Onka's Big Moka" could sell a ridiculously large number of units.

There are no duds on this album at all, every song has its proper place. I would give it five stars, only where would there be room for improvement if, as I expect, Toploader better this release with their next album?

Well done lads, keep up the good work.

Oh, and Joseph, get yourself signed up with some big shampoo company. Your hair's worth it!

I need another CD player 'cos this album is stuck in mine!
I first heard Toploader at a Paul Weller concert a year or two ago, and whilst there I bought their "High Flying Bird" EP. Since then, barely a day has gone by that I haven't thought "I can't wait for their debut album!" The EP was really that good. The waiting has been a strange experience, as I have witnessed the releases of Achilles Heel, and Let The People Know barely even scratch the charts - such amazing songs yet no success - why? Early this year they released Dancing In The Moonlight, which I felt was not their usual style (they didn't write it) and not upto the standard of previous songs. However, this song was the first to get any serious airplay and really hit the charts, which was great because it felt like Toploader had finally "arrived." What's more, the more I heard the song, the more addicted I became to it - it's fantastic. I read that it's an old song and is actually the lead singer's favourite song of all-time. Then, a couple of months later, Achilles Heel got a re-release, and everyone was ready to give it a chance this time around. Of course, almost everyone who heard the song said it was one of the best songs in recent memory, so Achilles Heel really got the public fired up for the debut Album, Onka's Big Moka...which is fantastic! It's soooo full of raw energy; the lead singer puts everything he has into the songs, so much energy that it can feel electric at times. You really feel that they're all having a fantastic time playing their music, which is generally pretty happy, making it great summer fare. I have many favourites, but almost any listener would be gripped right from the start with the energetic Let The People Know (seems like a perfect song to listen to while running...although I habven't tried it, being a lazy...person). I guess Achilles Heel is the most accomplished pop/rock song here, and Only For A While is one of the most amazing ballads I've heard for ages, but there's generally something for everyone. There seems to be 2 main groups of people who buy the album - those who bought it for Dancing In the Moonlight and those who bought it for Achilles Heel. Usually lovers of Dancing cite Summer Cycle, High Flying Bird and Only For A While as their favourites, whereas the Achilles fans (the largest group) seems to like Let The People Know, Breathe, and Just About Living as their favourites. Either way, you won't be disappointed - the vocals are fantastic, the musicianship is awesome, and the songs are so perfectly arranged, they're pretty much faultless...except for High Flying Bird, which, while still a great song, was far, far better in it's original state, and most people may never get the pleasure of hearing, unfortunately. Still, one of the best albums I've heard for a good while - it takes considerable effort to put in another CD!

Top album Toploader!!!
Fantastic - the one word to sum up this album perfectly. It's difficult to find an album which is both chilled yet uplifting but 'Onka's Big Moka' fits that catagory completely. The highlights would have to be 'Just Hold On' which for me is just the perfect summer song and 'Only for a While' - a great vocal performance on an absolutely fantastic song. What more can I say except bring on the next installment Toploader!!!