Be Bop Deluxe
Modern Music - Harvest 1976 Comments:Be Bop Deluxe's "Modern Music" from 1976 is one of my big favorite albums from that period. It has a lot in common with David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust"; especially musically but also to some extent thematically. Guitarist Bill Nelson is the group's main force as a songwriter, lead singer and guitar virtuoso. During the previous three albums he has developed his songwriting and he, as on the predecessor "Futurama", produced the album together with John Leckie. The songs are generally very melodic and arrangements are crisp and airy, and many may recall Bowie's songwriting during his glam-rock period.
"Orphans of Babylon" is a catchy upbeat song with great guitar and fine vocals. A terrific opener. "Twilight" is slower number in Bowie style with a slightly weird ending. "Kiss if Light" sounds like a hit single and was the album's only single, but wasn’t the big hit. A great track, anyway, with Thin Lizzy dual guitars. "The Bird Charmer's Destiny" is a short balladtype track - again melodic in the Bowie way. "The Gold at the End of the Rainbow" is the next big song - must have been a live favorite with the very catchy chorus - obviously the audience sung along on this. "Bring Back the Spark" is a rocker - quite varied and a bit similar to Bowie’s "Suffragette City".
Side two begins with "The Modern Music Suite". There are radio sounds, short glimpses of previous Be Bop Deluxe songs and DJ talk, like you were surfing around on an old transistor radio. The title song "Modern Music" is really great and a catchy melody that is repeated at the end of the suite.
This fine suite consisting of six short numbers is followed by more strong tracks. "Forbidden Lovers" is a fine melodic glam rocker. "Down on Terminal Street" is another melodic song that also must have been a concert audience favorite. The last track is the acoustic and light "Make the Music Magic", which rounds off the album nicely.
The bonus number "Shine" was the B-side of "Kiss of Light" – an extended funky and somewhat monotonous number that you easily could do without - an example of bonus track that do not contribute positively to the overall impression. I usually do like bonus tracks, but this one is an exception.
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