FUTURAMA

This 1975 release by Be Bop Deluxe finds the band moving beyond the grit of their debut album, Axe Victim. While still quite guitar-heavy, Futurama exhibits a grace and polish lending itself to a nice sonic sheen while showing the real beauty of Be Bop Deluxe, which is their inability to be pigeonholed.

The songs on Futurama are generally short and quite melodic, but the lyrics and subject matter are a bit too highbrow (Jean Cocteau), and the performances are perhaps too passionate for mainstream rock radio. However, outside the mainstream and inside the progressive realm, Be Bop Deluxe is right at home.

Bill Nelson's guitar playing and tone are absolutely exquisite throughout. Stage Whispers, Maid In Heaven, Sister Seagull, and Between the Worlds are masterclass examples of taste and tone. They also demonstrate the sonic possibilities of the Gibson ES-345 and how in the right hands it can compete with a Les Paul or Stratocaster. Nelson's vocals, on the other hand, may not reach the same heights as his guitar work, but they fit the music perfectly. Furthermore, the late great Charlie Tumahai and Simon Fox prove a worthy rhythm section for Nelson's guitar heroics by adding dynamic flair and staying tight from beginning to end.

Futurama is perhaps Be Bop Deluxe's finest work, and it would be an excellent addition to the prog connoisseur's collection. It would also be a good starting point for anyone new to this fine but too often overlooked band. Highly recommended!