SINGLES BAR

Rip It Up, Issue 130, 1 May 1988, Page 28

SINGLES BAR

by

Bomb The Bass 'Beat Dis’ (RCA & 12”) Beatmasters ‘Rock Da House’ (RCA 7” & 12”) Two examples of what’s happening, baby. Art fans out there might recognise the influence of the Italian Futurists on modern dance records, a collage of images and noise suggesting the speed of modern life. Bomb The Bass use samples ranging from the Thunderbirds, spaghetti westerns, Son of Shaft, hip hop, go-go and soul. Little aural postcards from the collective consciousness piled together to create something new. Sampling is the new punk rock; creative, combative and amusing. House music might sound like 70s’ disco to some, and indeed it has the same social background, but it’s really a whole new ball game. The Beatmasters have created a fine bubble gum funk track, and I like it very much, but it’s just the tip of the house iceberg. If you want to get real weird, have a go at Acid House — very serious.

‘Beat Dis’

Kerr Buchanan

Gene and Jim are Into Shakes SHAKE’ (Bodybeat 12”) Another record about the mystery of the big beat. Lots of strange samples, like Bing Crosby going “Okay doke,” Eddie Cochran and Marilyn Monroe are in there someplace. Some nice drum programming and jazzy horns round this off nicely. Not really a song, more a statement of purpose.

Georgio ‘Lovers Lane’ (Motown 7” & 12”) Not the sort of guy you’d take

home to meet your mother, unless she likes that sort of thing. A dance record about having sex in cars; the best mix (out of four) is the ‘Georgio Love Dance’ with our hero saying “Does this mean I have to marry you now!” A great record for those of you without ethical restraints. Carrie McDowell ‘Uh Uh, No No Casual Sex’ (Motown 7”) From the same company that brought you the free wheeling Georgio comes this cautionary tale. Yes kids, sex between two consenting adults is a rare and wonderful thing, the earth moves and everything, butit’s real dangerous if you have the morals of a rabbit. Falco Meets Brigitte Nielsen ‘Body Next To Body’ (WEA7”&I2”) Their bodies meet, their minds meld, and as fast as you can say “Rambo,” the meaning of life is revealed. Like Sam Beckett’s Waiting For Godot, a look into the void. There’s not much happening here, I expected more from the ex-Mrs Rambo and even more from producer Giorgio Moroder. What you get' is flabby rock music and teutonic ramblings from Falco. Sisters Of Mercy ‘Dominion’ (WEA7”&I2”) I haven't a clue about what this is about. The video has got them in the desert with Arabs and horses and Mr

Eldritch looking very Graham Greene. Still sounds very impressive, very epic, and so it would with producer Jim (Bat Out Of Helf} Steinman. Featuring a very morose reading of Hot Chocolate’s ‘Emma.’ Megadeth Anarchy In The UK (EMII2” & pic disc) A faithful reproduction of the Pistols’ piss-take that everybody took seriously, including, 10 years later, Megadeath. Still immensely entertaining, even more with Megadeath confusing some of the words. Those of you who based your lifestyle on this when it first came out probably wouldn’t even put it on your BMW’s tape deck nowadays. Echo & The Bunnymen ‘Bedbugs And Ballyhoo’ (WEA7”&I2”) A club remix by Ivan Ivan, who knows his stuff. It’s got a nice feel about it, with Ray Manzerak playing some nice Doors keyboards. It’s interesting to compare the album version with this mix, just to see how well remixes can be done. The flip has three live takes, with the junkie anthem ‘Run, Run, Run’ filled with neurotic angst. The Cure ‘Hot Hot Hot’ (WEA7”&I2”) This one did real well on the Billboard dance chart, I can see why. Remixed by Francois Kevorkian, it’s become listenable. The album version

is like white boys playing bad funk, every damn cliche in the book. Mr Kevorkian spaces it out a bit, makes it less stodgy and plays around with strings and percussion. Millie Small ‘My Boy Lollipop’ (Festival 7”) Aswad ‘Don’t Turn Around’ (Festival 7”) The first a re-issue of an everpopular number, from ska’s first wave of popularity and still a joy to listen to. What a strange voice Miss Millie Small has, I used to own an album of her doing soul standards. My dog got so upset he ate it. Aswad seem to be going for the lovers’ rock mainstream, and scoring bullseye. A classic lovers’ vocal and a melody that should find fans everywhere. Steve Earl & The Dukes ‘Six Days On The Road’ (MCA 7”) The Dave Dudley classic about taking little white pills and driving big trucks. Steve Earl handles it very well. The flip is a live version of ‘Guitar Town’ which rocks very well. Depeche Mode ‘Route 66’ (Mute 7” & 12”) Written by Bobby Troup in the 40’s, done by Nat King Cole, rocked up by Chuck Berry, rocked further by the Rolling Stones and now given the modern treatment by Depeche

Mode. Well, the music is treated in a different style, but the vocals have that dead-pan delivery that Bobby Troup had way back. Re-mix by The Beatmasters with samples from American radio DJs, extended and treated drum breaks — a funky reworking indeed. Never thought I’d ever like Depeche Mode again, maybe it’s just the great song.