REVIEWS

Press, 17 August 1978, Page 15

REVIEWS

BONNIE TYLER: “Natural Force” (R.C.A. VPL 17165): Bonnie Tyler’s first album was released here some time ago to a fairly modest reception, but ■ “The World Starts Tonight” launched her career quite well in Europe. A single from the record, “Lost in France,” did especially well. But the musical future of this Welsh edition of Renee Geyer looked bleak when it was found out an operation was needed on her throat to remove nodules that threatened her voice. The operation was a success, and “Natural Force” represents a strong come-back from the edge of the musical grave. It completely changed her voice, and her static career, for it turned her from a mere member of the chorus of sweet-voiced female singers into a gravelly-voiced star. Where her first album was saccharine-sweet, “Natural Force” establishes Bonnie Tyler as the female version of Rod Stewart, a comparison she apparently finds odious. “I hate it,” she is reported to have told a reporter in London, but without a doubt, it is the rough-hewn vocals that set her apart from the rest. "Natural Force” contains a string of potential hit singles, and “It’s a Heartache” is doing well in New Zealand. Two other tracks have been released as singles as well — “Heaven” and “Here am I” — and Bonnie Tyler treats other songs by such diverse artists as Stevie Wonder and Carol King with feeling. “Living for the City” and “Natural Woman” are every bit as good as the I originals, and although she | is trying to foot it with i some very heavyweight female competition at the moment, 1 think Bonnie Tyler is destined for success. CHEAP TRICK: “In Colour” (C.B.S. ELPS 3836): I had seen Cheap Trick a couple of times on “Radio With Pictures” and been quite impressed with the quality of both the band’s act and material. But I was unprepared for the over-all excellence of “In Colour,’’ simply one of the best albums I have heard in ages. “In Colour” was first released in the United States in January, 1977, but it has only just made it to New Zealand. This is the first I offering of Cheap Trick in ! this country’ (to the best of i> my knowledge) and I am I eagerly awaiting the ! second, because “In Colour'” i is, to my mind, unwaveri ingly brilliant. I Not one of the 10 tracks | is a dud. and the musician--1 ship of the band is superb, i The cover, too, is a gem. H Cheap Trick is highenergy. high-voltage, AmerI ican rock-and-roll band the trimmings. If

you like your music loud, raw, visceral, and uncompromising, check out “In Colour”: it’s a grunter. MAGAZINE: “Real Life” (Virgin V 2100): “Real Life,” Magazine’s debut album, has been eagerly awaited here in New Zealand after rave reviews by some of the heavyweights of the music critic business. Chris Brazier, of “Melody Maker,” was moved to say that he felt “Real Life” to be the “best and most exciting album” he had heard all year, and referred to the albums "absolutely awesome quality.” “Rolling Stone” was equally impressed by the single released from “Real Life,” “Shot by Both Sides,” calling it the “best rock ’n’ roll record of 1978.” At the risk of seeming a bit above it all, I found ‘‘Real Life” to be dull, at times boring and monotonous, and not my most exciting album of the year at all. The cover is one of the best I have seen, and “Shot by Both Sides” is far and away the most impressive track of the ninesong album. But quite simply, it does not carry the rest of the album, and indeed it should not be expected to. Alongside this single track, the rest pale significantly. Magazine may have a bright future — “Real Life” rocketed into the British charts at No. 26 when it was released there — but alongside other British rockers of the moment, Devoto and company just do not rate. Musique to my ears Night Musique, one of the best bands ever to come out of Christchurch, are drawing capacity crowds to the James Cook Hotel, in Dunedin. The group went south after a successful monthlong stint at the Aranui, and are nearing the end of their fortnight-long engagement at the prestigious Dunedin hotel. According to a spokesman for Night Musique, the Dunedin audiences are a lot mote receptive to the band’s smooth, cabaretstyle act than were the Christchurch crowds. Nonetheless, Night Musique return to Christchurch on Sunday and are going into the studios for a week of rehearsal before a gig at the Chateau Commodore on Sunday, August 27. Later this year, Musique are to attend a convention in Blenheim of independent radio stations and record companies. No record deals have been signed at the moment, but the spokesman said the band had received “several promising offers.” and would be looking more closely at these. Tentative plans for a North Island tour towards the end of the year were in progress tq£, he said.