Here’s the second act of Albert Bouchard’s take on the Imaginos random access myth where everything happens at once……And the former Blue Oyster Cult drummer comes up trumps co-opting his ex-cohorts to join the fun with appearances by brother Joe, Eric Bloom, Donald Roeser, Richie Castellano amongst others.
It’s a varied continuation of the epic, sprawling tale as told by Albert’s re-working of relevant BOC songs in his own way as we move backwards and forwards through BOC albums pretty much spanning their career. For example When the War Comes, OD’d on Life Itself and Dominance and Submission to name but three.
The general premise to this second chapter being more or less that the Magna of Illusion has influenced history resulting in WWI and WWI with a bit of peace in between and afterwards with good old Imaginos keeping an eye on things through that black telescope.
Musically it’s a wild and varied ride so well put together and intuiting to hear Albert’s versions of the BOC staples relevant to this part of the Imaginos story.
When War Comes opens things up. A sort of a gentle almost folk-jazz in parts with trumpet by Joe, some well place violin and brief yet spiky guitar solo from Jack Rigg towards the end.
Screming Dizbusters and OD’d on Life Itself not too far removed from the original BOC versions. Il Duce (Mussolini?) a nice lighthearted rocker. Then Bombs Over Germany (or if you prefer ME262). It rocks hard just like on Secret Treaties with the brutal riff and venomous vocals. Marvellous.
Indeed. Have a listen to it:
The BOC classics keep coming with versions of Before the Kiss (A Redcap), Dominance, the Red and the Black and Dominance and Submission, Shadow of California and Cities on Flame sprinkled in amongst excellent new cuts such as Three Sisters and Independence Day.
The running order of the songs probably isn’t in chronological order to spin the Imaginos yarn – and that’s OK as it is that random access myth after all.
BOC (my included…..) will lap it up. It’s great, a real grower and you get in to the complexities and compare and contrast with the originals – though not to think “I like the original better” or anything like that. Albert’s versions are intentionally different and that’s the whole point.
Listen to it without prejudice as though you’re not familiar with the original BOC versions and enjoy Bombs Over Germany on it’s vary many merits. Don’t keep us waiting too long for Imaginos 3 please Albert…..!