DRASTIC PLASTIC

This was the final studio album for BE BOP DELUXE released in 1978, and I can't help but feel that Bill Nelson the leader of the band decided to jump on that New Wave style, ride the wave. TALKING HEADS came to mind a lot and they released their debut in 1977. It's like a different band here as suddenly the keyboardist is playing a boat load of synths and even Nelson is playing synth guitar on a couple of tracks. In one way it would have made more sense if they had called this album "Modern Music" instead of the previous one because of the change in styles to something new, because their previous album just continued in the same style as "Sunburst Finish". But having said that how ironic is that they called it "Drastic Plastic" because of the plastic synths dominating the sound.

Bill is a guitarist right? I get it he probably felt he took the band as far as he could with what they had been doing so it was time for a change. Even the vocals are noticeably different, more theatrical but not as commanding as say David Byrne making Bill's vocals simply disappointing on this one. It is interesting that the closer "Island Of The Dead" is the one track that could have fit on any of the three previous records. Mostly though we get synth dominated tunes like the opening three tracks including some robotic vocals. The fourth tune "Surreal Estate" is more light and poppy while "Dangerous Stranger" sounds like a 50's tune. "Panic In The World" screams TALKING HEADS along with a few other tracks and "Visions Of Endless Hopes" sounds out of place, pretty much being a guitar track done right.

Sounds like an 80's album beating many bands to the punch, but this is not an album I recommend at all. 2 stars, fans only.

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