![]() ![]() Unlike the pop groups of today-a bland 1950's regression, who seem to live in a vacuum, can't write their own songs, repeatedly sample and cover other people's tunes, and are told what to wear by so many stylists-Duran Duran were an intelligent, talented, multi-layered package that also provoked thought. The fabulously pretentious To the Shore has also now been reinstated on the CD version. Killer singles like Planet Earth and Girls on Film mingle with great ablum tracks like Is There Anyone Out There?, Sound of Thunder, and Friends of Mine, which could all have been singles in their own right. ![]() Thankfully, the music here is equally exciting. Where do I begin to describe what it was like to discover Duran Duran, their music, the way they looked, their attitude, and the effect that they had (and continue to have) on me and my generation? Even seeing their album covers for the first time-they just looked so sophisticated and glamorous to me as a kid. This is an essential introduction to one of Britain's most unique and under-rated bands. As DD's career progressed, the tension between the 'Art' and the 'Roll' was not only their creative drive but also the force that drove them in different directions like 'Power Station' and 'Arcadia'. I don't think any other music at that time, or any other time, sounded like this. It has a very warm, Middle Eastern feel, even down to Simon's subtle muezzin-style vocals. But 'Tel Aviv' stands out for its unique sound. DD have released a couple of other instrumentals over the years such as 'Faith In This Colour' and the very wonderful 'Tiger Tiger' on the 7 & The Ragged Tiger album. I actually love 'Tel Aviv' which is the instrumental track. As another reviewer has commented, the video to this song is like a mini-movie with zombies etc long before Micahel Jackson released 'Thriller' - yet MJ is treated as the pioneer of video! 'To The Shore' is an ambient track you can chill out to - but contains one of the most bizarre lyrics I've ever heard 'gorging your sanhedralite'(!). Bordering on pretentious perhaps but then again they were art students in the late 70's! 'Nightboat' is a fan favourite and even now it is strangely compelling. The 'artier' more sombre songs show off the kind of songwriting and artistic range that bands now could only dream about. Perhaps a better choice of single would have been 'Friends Of Mine' (apparently the line 'Georgie Davis is coming out' gave the song some play on the gay club scene!)or 'Sound Of Thunder' which really kick ass with their swirling synths and punchy guitars. 'Careless Memories' has a darker edge to it and was only a minor hit in 1981 - I think the song really comes alive on an album like 'Arena' where it has a visceral energy somehow lacking on the original. Girls On Film, one of their most enduring songs, is an obvious highlight, and Planet Earth which even uses the words 'New Romantic' in the lyrics is catchy and has aged better than some of its contemporaries. Like other DD albums there is a definite schism between what would have been Side 1 & Side 2 of the album (that means vinyl to you youngsters!). You can hear the influences of Bowie, Roxy Music, Disco and Punk but even at this early stage there was a uniqueness about their sound and style that set them apart from the New Romantics they are associated with. ![]() To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.ĭuran Duran's eponymous debut speaks volumes about their origins - and about their musical development. ![]() You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. Click ‘Customise Cookies’ to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier. If you agree, we’ll also use cookies to complement your shopping experience across the Amazon stores as described in our Cookie Notice. We also use these cookies to understand how customers use our services (for example, by measuring site visits) so we can make improvements. We use cookies and similar tools that are necessary to enable you to make purchases, to enhance your shopping experiences and to provide our services, as detailed in our Cookie Notice. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |