MODERN MUSIC

BE BOP DELUXE had a relatively short five year career but they released five studio albums during that time in the 70's. It's been interesting going through their albums chronologically although I'm missing the debut. Bill Nelson the guitarist, vocalist and composer seems to throw everything at us here as we get a bunch of short tracks. Fifteen songs over 42 plus minutes, and "Modern Music" the next to final recording by them is full of variety and it's interesting that Bill the excellent guitarist that he is, seems to keep backing away from the spotlight as I go further into their discography.

And while I'd suggest "Futurama" their second record is my favourite it's also an immature work where we get flashy solos or Bill singing but it works to my ears better than the three albums that follow. It may be more about the songs after "Futurama" but I'm just not into the music. So while "Modern Music" and the previous record "Sunburst Finish" stand as favourites among the Prog crowd, this Prog fan just can't get into them, this not my music. So of course we get some half decent tracks here among the fifteen but this is consistently doing little for me. I like "Twilight Capers" and "Down On Terminal Street" quite a bit, especially the latter as the former is inconsistent. Some samples to open the title track which is different.

Almost half the tracks are around 2 minutes or less. 3 stars.

Social review comments

Review related links

• Send comments to Mellotron Storm
• Report this review (#3056294)
• Buy BE BOP DELUXE music online with PA partners
• Show all BE BOP DELUXE MP3/Stream
• Go to BE BOP DELUXE page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Modern Music page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for BE BOP DELUXE related discussions