Bungle in the jungle

Press, 14 January 1982, Page 10

Bungle in the jungle

BOW WOW WOW “See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!” (RCA-Victor VPLI 7405).

Like the Sex Pistols, the greatest problem in dealing with Bow Wow Wow is to separate the myth from the legend, fantasy from reality, and the truth from lies. Like the Sex Pistols there have been the usual fracas over record company contracts, and like the Sex Pistols there has been the off-street star. Malcolm McLaren “discovered" John Lydon in his shop. In the case of Bow Wow Wow the lead violinist, Annabella Lwin, was supposedly found in a laundrette. Not quite a baby, however, but her 14-year-old (?) voice certainly sent people into a, spin. The best way of avoiding the controversies and traps is to deal with the music itself, and then to come to terms with the surrounding problems. Surprisingly, “See Jungle ! . .” is quite accessible music which easily outstrips the

other groups trying the same approach, which was the main strength of the Sex Pistols. It does not always work, of course but it is there in sufficient quality to say that there is more to Bow Wow Wow than keeping a dog and barking yourself. Although a lot of the material is of the “Paradise Lost” variety — not necessarily the Bo Derek version either — it is occasionally overdone. “Chihuahua,” the single, is a good example. Easy to listen to, it begs for sympathy with “I’m a rock ’n’ roll puppet/In a band called Bow Wow Wow.” This is McLaren as the devil, and in any case whose fault is it if the singer is in such a position? This kind of manipulation is unhealthy.

As another reviewer has commented there is enough natural talent in the band without all the posturing. “Elimination Dancing” is a track in point, sounding distinctly like The Pretenders at times with Annabella singing as well as Chrissie.

‘“Sinner, Sinner, Sinner,” is another example.

The ears even pick up on the Hank B. Marvin instrumental copy. “OrangOutang.” Its success is that it is not quite a parody. The best thing that can be said about Bow Wow Wow is that if they are serious enough, or alternatively comical enough, they now prove they can bungle in the jungle without hiding in the trees. We won’t get fooled again.

DEPECHE MODE “Speak and Spell” (Mute POW 6012). Those who are having difficulty absorbing music by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark might like to try the lighter pop.style of Depeche Mode. This four-piece group from Basildon have been making inroads into the English independent and U.K. charts since late 1980.

The first outing “Photographic,” on “Some Bizarre Album,” made little impression. but the group of three synthesizers and one guitarist returned to the studio for “Dreaming of Me”/“lce

Age.” a single which reached No. 1 on the independent charts in February of last year. Unfortunately' neither track is on “Speak and Spell.”

“Dreaming of Me" reached No. 54 on the general U.K. charts, and a follow-up, “New Life,” (which is on the album) peaked at No. 11. Like OMITD, Depeche Mode are more interested in style than in song, and their main writer, Vince Clarke, goes for lyrics that will fit. The disco influence is strong, but not objectionable, and apparently the music on the album is harder because “Photographic,” which opens side two is harsher than on “Some Bizarr’e Album.” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” is accorded treatment similar to “Photographic," a matter that has upset the die-hard original fans who preferred the initial versions.

Still the Basildon Boys are in the big league now being chased by girls, and are pop stars in the true sense of the word. The old town won't be the same.