AXE VICTIM

It has been quite a while that I didn't listen to Be Bop Deluxe and it waswith real pleasure that I re- discovered this debut album which can be seen as a mix between 10 CC (Axe Victim) and Bowie during Love Is Swift Arrows (and a few other songs as well). These tracks are a great mix of some decadence and glam. Two very good songs.

The album is a pleasant journey through these mid seventies sounds and it combines straight pop-rock (Jet Silver And The Dolls) and mostly glam. When you listen to Third Floor Heaven, it is undeniable that Ziggy Stardust is not far away. But it is such a pleasure to listen to this track. I wonder why.

The middle part of the album is less catchy; songs are too conventional. It picks up again thanks to a very good guitar work during Adventures In A Yorksh. This part sounds almost as a Santana one (I'm not kidding). Great job from William Nelson.

The long Jets As Dawn is a little tired until the final and great guitar part again. This time, it is really close to some of the best moments of Rock & Roll Animal (from dear old Lou), one of the best live album of all time in which guitars have a significant role.

William Nelson plays the crooner during the closing Darkness which is a fine way to end this good debut album. Nothing prog at all, but a good rock album. From the three bonus tracks available on the last CD issue, there are three live tracks featured (all recorded in 1977): while the bluesy Piece Of Mine is dispensable both Mill Street Junction and the excellent Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape are worth a listen. On the latter, the guitar play is really phenomenal.

Their leader (Nelson) will sack all the band members after this debut (sounds familar, remember what happened to The Spiders From The Mars...

Seven out of ten for this good debut album. Three stars.