SUNBURST FINISH

"Sunburst Finish" is the third full-length studio album by UK rock act Be Bop Deluxe. The album was released through Harvest Records in February 1976 only seven months after the release of the preceding album "Futurama" from July 1975. Since the release of "Futurama", keyboard player Andrew Clark has joined the lineup making Be Bop Deluxe a quartet on "Sunburst Finish". Clark was also part of the lineup touring in support of "Futurama".

"Sunburst Finish" pretty much continues the art rock direction, which was introduced on "Futurama", but Be Bop Deluxe have refined the formula a bit more on "Sunburst Finish" and the inclusion of Clark to the lineup has also meant a stronger keyboard/piano presence. It´s still frontman/guitarist William Nelson who shines the most though, and his many leads and interesting rhythm riffs are the greatest asset of Be Bop Deluxe´s music. His vocals are decent but not a standout feature of the music.

The slightly more mainstream commercial touch (Be Bop Deluxe even had a hit single with "Ships in the Night") makes "Sunburst Finish" a slightly less appealing release than "Futurama", if you´re interested in listening to the most adventurous material by Be Bop Deluxe, but "Sunburst Finish" is still a well composed, well produced, and very well performed release and a 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.