Singapore were from the Cardiff area in Wales forming in 1978 and hanging around for a few years before splitting up after rewards were not forthcoming from the efforts put in.
They did have a self-financed single – Launching with the B-side of A Bird With No Wings although despite recording some demos and some interest from record companies a recording contract remained elusive hence the split in 1982.
Now, the crew at Obscure NWOBHM Releases have done what they do best again to release Singapore’s single and various other demos in their usual limited edition run of 500 CDs.
Singapore’s style of slightly quirky, catchy and melodic rock with sometimes a mixture of a funky/punk influence does work well and I find the songs on this anthology to be “growers”.
The funky/punk influences no doubt being there due to the booklet notes indicating that the band originated after the demise of a punk band named Dozy whereafter guitarist Danny Chang and drummer Colin Galton decided to form a new band with a “more rock with a punk attitude.”
The funk side being the recruitment of vocalist Nigel Voyle from a funk band named Graffiti. Voyle’s vocals here are clean and rangy fitting Singapore’s style well.
That sole single of Launching with A Bird With No Wings is catchy enough with that quirky mixture of melodics, funk and punk. I think it flows nicely and for some reason makes me think of Thin Lizzy. Not sure why. Here it is:
A Bird With No Wings has some nice guitar going on. Private Lives bounces along well with some clever lyrics which take on extra significance these days. Friday the Thirteenth the “power ballad” and Hollywood Fantasy a nice melodic rocker.
Muggin’ doesn’t take itself too seriously and is quite a “fun” song. Murder is Easy catchy and melodic then Bring on the Night pushes things up a notch as it heads towards a heavier style yet retaining a nice hook and harmony, as does Silver Screen Queen.
Perhaps the closer – I Spy – is the heaviest number of the fourteen songs here.
Singapore were certainly very much at the more AOR/melodic end of the musical spectrum which perhaps wasn’t the best for the times with the then burgeoning New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene very much on trend and the melodic stuff not so much.
That said, the more I’ve listened to it, the more I’ve liked it and it what Singapore had back then deserves more than being a New Wave of British Heavy Metal related curiosity.
The Singapore anthology is on a limited edition run of 500 CDs as is usual with Obscure NWOBHM label releases.
At time of posting, the label showing availability as are various others such as Sonic Age Records:
https://onreleases.bigcartel.com
https://www.sonicagerecords.com/_shop/cd/cd-nwobhm/singapore-anthology-cd
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