MUSIC WEEK JANUARY 5 1985 84'S Fnihs Set to Become 85'S Vintage
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MUSIC WEEK JANUARY 5 1985 The results were more satis- Fugazi and He Knows You Know UB40 fying in every respect — does not endear them to a more 84's fnihs set to THESE DAYS UB40 are a far "respect" being the key word. adult audience, which would softer pop-reggae band, a pro- Because while many groups will probably appreciate Marillion's gression reflected in their new, do all sorts of ridiculous things to subtler qualities. young audience. They are now a put on a show, The Cocteau On the plus side, a lengthy dance band, which is no bad Twins know their limitations. section from the band's next become 85's vintage thing, especially while they con- They still remain almost motion- album, Misplaced Childhood, tinue to espouse the virtues of less uttering scarcely a peep was quite superb, as were Jigsaw 1984 PROVED to be a fruitful year some extent bypassing the reggae. But it's a far cry from the between songs, but this serves to and Cinderella Search, two of the for disco/dance music and most funkier 'straight' disco music angry group which featured a focus attention on the music: year's outstanding compositions. of the companies engaged in pro- scene to hit squarely at the pop benefit card on their debut which, with everything bar the Interestingly, the teen-dominated ducing and selling it. It was also a charts. This was good news album. voice and some of the guitar on audience was less receptive to year in which several acts who indeed for artists like Hazell Dean, AM Campbell emerged as the tape, was near perfect. these than they were to the afore- had been biding their time in the Evelyn Thomas and Divine, as star, his vocals shining despite The stage was sparingly hung mentioned tracks. wings finally made a firm impact well as labels like Passion, Proto an, at best, fluctuating mix. The with muslin drapes, the lighting Marillion have a safe and on the charts, often in the and Particularly Record Shack, sound was perhaps too cluttered, underplayed and the slide fanatical UK following, but com- absence of traditionally big- who had put their faith and with the brass adding confusion images suitably moody — every- petition from Twelfth Night etc, is selling black and dance artists recording muscle firmly behind rather than punctuation. Sur- thing working in one direction to increasing. Misplaced Childhood, who simply didn't produce the the genre. No longer the preroga prisingly, UB40 were at their best enhance the atmosphere, without an intriguing concept, will have product to fit the times any more. tive of the trendy gay clubs. Hi without the horns, but again this being obstructive or cornily to be their most significant and Into the former category fell, NRG will continue to make its must be put down to the sound "gothic". mature release to, date if they are amongst others, Prince, who with presence felt into the coming balance. Elizabeth Eraser's heavenly to grow in stature. The stunning his singles from the Purple Rain year. As toaster/percussionist Astro voice was as wonderfully excerpt played at Hammersmith movie, finally made the sort of explained, UB40 believe that eloquent and evocative as on augurs well for the future. impact in the UK that his earlier given more exposure dub music record, which is a breathtaking GARETH THOMPSON efforts like 1999 and Little Red could become the new pop music feat considering that her lyrics Corvette had in the US. He is and consequently gave over a are to all intents and purposes certainly a strong bet for further small section of the concert to gibberish. The guitars were increased chart penetration Funky demonstrate. Sadly they failed. elating, and each beat of the El Sonido during 1985, in a field where male Dub depends more on what's left drum machine was like a muted solo acts are less plentiful, in At the other end of the spec- out rather than what's left in. The explosion. de Londres commercially successful terms, trum, there was a notable return spaces are of prime importance, There were a couple of than they used to be, following in some quarters to traditional a consideration UB40 apparently moments of embarrassed silence EL SONIDO de Londres delivered the loss of Marvin Gaye and the soul music, via timeless records forgot. when the backing tapes refused steamy, vibrant salsa to an enthu- much reduced 1984 profile of like J Blackfoot's Taxi, and the Apart from the predictable to operate to plan, but even this siastic audience at the Wag Club some of the younger pretenders return to prominence by the all- screams for Red Red Wine and all only made them seem more which, having already been like Al Jarreau and Luther time queen of soul, Tina Turner. It the other recent hits. Tyler from attractively vulnerable. treated to a couple of hours of hot Vandross. didn't become an all-conquering the first album was enthusiastic- The only real gripe was that latin sounds from the DJ, was in The other newer male soloist in fad, but who knows whether the ally received. Bearing in mind the they only played two or three the mood for the real thing. the genre who really has made an stage is set for a wholesale return song's content, one might have songs from their new album. Percussion balanced with impact was Jeffrey Osborne, who of deep and funky soul to 1985's electric piano and a dramatic thanks to a couple of widely- expected people to at least be self Treasure — maybe they haven't horn section produced the highs appealing singles and a success- dancefloors? conscious about dancing, but this got the backing tapes together ful UK visit, became a familiar 1984 was a year for the super- was far from the case. Leaving yet. But The Cocteau Twins' and lows that kept everyone disco and pop chart name. stars in the sense that Stevie the politics aside, as the audience music was almost edible, and moving on the dancefloor. The Osborne will certainly continue to Wonder had his biggest hit ever clearly wished to, the reason why many groups would do well to lead singer, who refrained from shine in 1985 if he continues to with I Just Called To Say I Love this song was so popular was treat their material with the speaking any English, held the come up with material of a You, and Michael Jackson, Kool because it contained melody, respect the Twins treat theirs. whole thing together with his & The Gang and Lionel Richie something lacking in the material JOHN BEST soaring vocals and amiable similar standard. maintained their hit status with from the recent Geffrey Morgan expression. dazzling ease. However, some album At no point did the sunny sway erstwhile automatic sellers like UB40, the new band are a fine, lapse into the mean and moody Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Ross professional band, but it was a Lou Reed — although some numbers had and Shalamar found themselves great disappointment to see how tense openers with just vocals Successes having to work much harder (and much they've changed. REVIEWING A living legend and bongos. And the sense of in some cases, hardly success- DUNCAN HOLLAND presents a major problem. First, excitement was maintained by '84 was also very much the fully) for their livings. one would hate to be dis- layers of beautifully controlled year of the female vocalist in Newer British and US talent appointed, but second, one rhythms which built into cres- disco/dance music. Madonna, like the Cool Notes. Eugene Wilde refuses to be impressed, simply cendos sizzling with interesting Shirley {& Co), Chaka Khan, Sade, and Paul Hardcastle has given Howard Jones because of who the performer is. percussion and blasts of trom- Stephanie Mills, the Pointer notice of much bigger things to HOWARD JONES lines up his Brixton's Academy Lou Reed bone and trumpet. Sisters and many others had come in 1985, while recent rows of equipment like a psy- fell somewhere between the two. Sonido de Londres made it all huge dance successes, most of impressive comebacks from the chedelic teacher preparing for a It was a surprisingly workman- look so easy and the obvious them crossing over to equal pop Temptations, Ray Parker Jr and technicolour physics lesson. like performance from Reed, who pleasure they derived from per- chart action, and mostly con- particularly Billy Ocean bode well Dressed in green-and-red- played all the classics plus forming was infectious. A good solidating initial success with for their immediate future. splodged yellow he looks slightly material from his latest RCA time was had by all. strong follow-ups and beyond. The dance music genre is still like a mouldy banana as he urges album New Sensation, with the KAREN FAUX There is no reason to suppose jumping, still causing surprises, the banks of electronic hardware title track and single, I Love You that 1985 will do anything to and still consistently coming up to do his bidding. Suzanne, standing out in par- reverse this trend. with the goods. 1984 was a good The microprocessor takes ticular. UFO Hi-NRG music also went from year for it; 1985 is all set up to be much of the creative credit in Reed didn't really need to try strength to strength in 1984, to a vintage one. Jones' show, but he is aware that that hard to impress and it's THE MARK of a band's their sterile slavery can de- greatly to his credit .that he experience is their ability to humanise a gig.