Shortly after the box set re-issue of Be Bop Deluxe’s first thee albums, we now have this box set of their final three albums between 1976-1978 comprising of Modern Music, Live in the Air Age and Drastic Plastic.
Band leader and guitarist extraordinaire Bill Nelson was always ahead of the curve and a forward thinker.
Each album being a progression from the last style-wise yet always retaining the base of his guitar as, gradually, other elements came in to his song writing to bring, with Modern Music more progressive elements and with Drastic Plastic embracing electronica and new wave influences before all that was a ”thing”.
Modern Music is a mixture of the sharp, biting guitar affairs such as Orphans of Babylon, Kiss of Light, Bring Back the Spark, Modern Lovers and especially Down on Terminal Street.
And the multi-part expansive and ambitious title track suite is tremendous in its scope, scale and multiple styles is breath-taking. Arguably Bill’s finest work.
Live in the Air Age is Be Bop in fine form on their 1977 tour ripping through a set of favourites such as the rangy title track, their “hit” single of Ships in the Night, the biting Fair Exchange, the short one-two knockout punches of Sister Seagull and Maid in Heaven, a glorious expanded version of Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape with Bill’s sublime guitar work and the hard hitting Blazing Apostles.
Then in 1978 we had what would be Be Bop’s final album – Drastic Plastic. Here’s where Bill brings in those electronic and new wave experiments whilst retaining plenty of guitar.
Electrical Language such a hypnotic start before New Precision comes in. New Mysteries is a scorcher as is Love in Flames. Panic in the World chugs along and so catchy.
Surreal Estate is, er, surreal indeed with drummer Simon Fox playing kitchen pots and pans and wine bottles (yes, really).
Dangerous Stranger a bit dark yet powerful. Superenigmatix is weird with strangely prophetic lyrics. Possession short and biting then the beautiful Island of the Dead closes it out in some style.
Here’s Bring Back the Spark from Modern Music:
Shortly after Drastic Plastic Bill would disband Be Bop and return with his Red Noise project which released one album, the excellent Sound on Sound. That’s a cracker too.
These final three Be Bop albums stand the test of time. If you’re an old fan such as myself you’ll likely already have them. If not, get them (and/or the other box set with the first three albums) and enjoy how great Be Bop were.
At time of posting, you can get this 1976-1978 set from around £25. Bargain….!
>> BE BOP DELUXE THE ALBUMS 1976-1978 ON AMAZON <<
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