I absolutely adore this album. It’s such a thing of beauty to the ears, and yet Bill Nelson doesn’t care for it that much. In fact, by the time the album came out, he was already changing the image and the personnel of the band. Forever the maverick, Bill wasn’t prepared to play the record company game. At the height of the band’s popularity (especially in America), he folded the band and formed the alt/art rock combo, Red Noise.
Anyway, the Be Bop Deluxe albums that were records, are all different and you can hear the progression from glam to Prog and alt rock. The title track opens up the album and is amazing. Right from the first chord, Bill’s guitar just holds you with the sheer brilliance of the playing. The solo is timeless and I never tire of hearing this one. Yes, there are big Bowie overtones – especially with the image and the lyrics – but this to me is so much better. Bill is not just a great frontman, but a true guitar hero. Love Is Swift Arrows follows and lyrically is amazing – “Rules to be broken by reckless and young men”. I’ve always loved this song and that line in particular. Bill plays his amazing guitar lines all over the track, but it compliments rather than takes over. Jet Silver And The Dolls has deep Bowie influences with the subject matter alone, and musically it’s very similar in style to the Ziggy period. Third Floor Heaven is the closest he comes to actually mimicking Bowie. From the phrasing of his voice to the Mick Ronson style rhythm playing – its so close. The delightful Night Creatures is the last track on Side 1 and tells a tale of glams new children. It’s such a beautiful track and Bill’s vocals and phrasing are just perfect.
Side 2 starts off with Rocket Cathedrals and is souped-up old school rock n roll tune. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape is a song that means quite a lot to me as I was brought up in a community like that. I lived about 10 miles away from where Bill Nelson grew up and lived, and the pictures the song paints are fresh in my memory. Jets At Dawn is a song that appeared on the Smile EP and is a re-working of the original. It is also the longest track at 7.20. It contains a brilliant solo from Bill as the tempo picks up towards the end of the song. No Trains To Heaven is the big rock track on the album. It’s quite simple in its style with the interplay with Bill’s vocal and the guitar answers, but kicks ass as the speed picks up. Final track Darkness (L’immoraliste) has strings, orchestra, and everything – one can only speculate the subject matter. This is a great album and comes highly recommended.
9.5/10 from The Grooveman.
