Luke Concannon (b. 9 August 1978, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England; vocals/guitar) and John Parker (b. 19 January 1978, Bath Spa, Somerset, England; double bass/beatbox) make up Nizlopi, the unusual name taken from a Hungarian girl that Concannon was at school with. They are best known for their surprise hit, "JCB", which reached number 1 on the UK singles chart the week before Christmas 2005, some six months after its original release. The song, which describes Concannon's own childhood struggle with dyslexia, and of days taken off school to go to work with his father, received intensive mainstream radio airplay, and was accompanied by an acclaimed animated video.
The duo's debut album, Half These Songs Are About You, which was released more than a year prior to their commercial breakthrough on small independent label FDM Records, included "JCB" and featured additional musicians with strong production, creating a funkier and more full-on sound than their live sets as an acoustic duo. However, Concannon's soulful vocals, whether singing or rapping, and Parker's double bass playing and impressive beatbox skills are still at the forefront of their music, which is primarily tuneful pop, blending folk and hip-hop. Concannon's lyrics focus mainly on politics and love, and ultimately his hope of improving a society that is in terminal decline.
The mini-album, ExtraOrdinary, was released in September 2006 as a stopgap before their second album. It tried to convey the sound and spirit of their highly rated live performances. No additional musicians were used on the record, although it did feature a guest appearance from author Alastair McIntosh.
DISCOGRAPHY: Half These Songs Are About You (FDM 2004)***, ExtraOrdinary mini-album (FDM 2006)***, MAKE It Happen (FDM 2008)***.

Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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