Echo create and the The Michigan Daily-Friday, January 29, 1988- Page 9 Bunnymen By Brian Jarvinen The English pop scene has al- ways supplied American audiences with two kinds of bands. Some, such as Level 42 and the Pet Shop Boys, cross the pond and climb straight into our Top 40. Fortu- nately, there are two types. The other stripe of bands have generally been around for awhile, putting out artistic albums that bring them critical hosannahs, but their records usually make a dent only on the dance charts. The Cure, New Model Army, and the subject here, Echo and the Bunnymen, who perform tonight at Hill Auditorium, typify the more adventurous side of English pOp. Echo and the Bunnymen formed in November of 1978 as a three- piece in Liverpool. The band con- sisted of Ian McCulloch on vocals and guitar, Will Sergeant on more guitar, Les Pattinson on bass, and a drum machine they cutely named Echo. This led to their choice of band name - get it? Echo retired in October 1979 when it was replaced by a real drummer, Pete de Freitas. Amazingly this line up has remained advent the same for the last eight years, which is probably a record for the bands discussed above. Depending on your point of view and musical allegiance, the Bunny- men's post-punk sound is heavily influenced by the Doors, the Velvet Underground, or some phases of David Bowie's career. They recently let their Doors influence hang way out, first on their 1987 album, Echo and the Bunnymen, on "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo," and then on the Lost Boys soundtrack with "People are Strange," which was produced by that old gold-digger Ray Manzarek. The hopping fellows have been known to play "Soul Kitchen" as an encore. Their influences are relatively easy to hear, but that is about all one can easily learn about them. The Bunnymen have always disdained interviews, rarely talking with the press. When they filmed a concert flick in 1981, Shine So Hard, their fans were driven to the secret site. McCulloch's lyrics reflect this mys- terious image with dark, poetic pop songs that are up to the listener to decipher. So much for ancient history. Echo and the Bunnymen's current urous pop success can be traced to the 1985 re- without any real airplay until MTV lease of their greatest hits/ singles put "Lips Like Sugar" into rotation album Songs to Learn and Sing. last summer. Strangely, however, Songs allowed people who liked the Bunnymen have not appeared on one or more of their scarcely-heard- local airwaves, despite their Pine in-America singles to safely buy an Knob success and MTV exposure. LP worth of material. This clever Perhaps we are better off thokigh, move gained them many new fans. as it allows a band that will play Last July they released their fifth Doors covers and has a lead singer studio LP, the aforementioned Echo prone to random drunken escapades and the Bunnymen. Then they em- to play a place where their fans can barked on a major tour with Gene see the action. In other words, Hill Loves Jezebel and New Order. This Auditorium will play host to an triple bill sold out Pine Knob last uncompromising, rambunctious August. band from the better half of the The Btnnvmen have achieved English scene. their current popularity by doing what they want, or as Ian McCol- luch told Rolling Stone this fall, by refusing to "sell yourself in every way possible." They have also done The Leather Nun will open the 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets are $18.25 and $16.75 at the Michigan Union and all TicketMaster outlets, and are available at the door for $1.75 less. NNW" Echo and the Bunnymen have in mystery over the years. A to be seen tonight when they sustained an image that's been shroudel more intimate view of the band is sure play Ann Arbor's Hill Auditorium. Records Copying SPrinting EResumes Q Word Processing Ql Transparencies Q Books Q Binding E Brochures E Typesetting O Padding Q Carbonless Forms Q Business Cards Ql Color Copying HDissertations Stapling 0Folding ElLabels El Letterheads El Envelppes. [~71 Copies Gary Peacock Guamba Dave Holland Quintet The Razor's Edge ECM Records Here are a pair of great releases by two of the truly outstanding bassists and composers in modern music. Between them, Peacock and Holland have worked with everyone! They are both impeccable musicians who have come up with very different approaches. Peacock is the mystic. His tunes are lonely and alert. His bass has an immense fullness, and Jan Gar- barek's plaintive saxophone is suited to his compositions. The title cut is spellbinding. The curious "Intro- ending" is alive with playful movement. Drummer Peter Erskine is just fine in what strikes me as an unusually quiet date for him. Dave Holland offers his third quintet LP of fiery post-Mingus straight-ahead tilted tunes. This is more traditional than Guamba but Holland and friends are not laying back resting on laurels. They are hard at play extending the notions of Those Who Came Before. Holland's bands are always sym- pathetic. No exception here. Steve Coleman's alto saxophone is lively throughout, and Kenny Wheeler's tenure with Holland is paying off in ever-increasing musical dividends. Both of these records benefit from the fine engineering that is the stan- dard with ECM. Peacock's offers soothing reflections while Holland is more forthrightly swinging. Both sessions are thoughtful, never self- conscious. Enthusiastically recom- mended. Times two! --Marc S. Taras Need Desk-Top Publishing?. We haven't been stumped yet! A1bert s Capgng 535 E. Liberty - 995-0444 - Open 7 Days a Week 0 Read aMd WeM Daieq C~aosibied6 I - GE T IT: GUAPtVI$ ._;.__ - The Personal Column MICHIGAN DAILY CLASSIFIED ADS Gary Peacock rounds out a fine album of experimental 'Guamba.' jazz on i-SHIRT PRINTING HIGH QUALITY LOW PRICES SINCE 1973 1002 PONTIAC TR.U 994-1367 I Arbor Forest 721 S. Forest Ann Arbor. Michigan 48104 Very Spacious 2 Bedroom Apartments For further information or questions Also apartments available at: Please phone (313) 769-6542 or 1001 S. Forest (313)761-1523.lbert Terrace - 1700 Geddes (313)761-523.848 Tappan 1320 S. University 415 E. Hoover 1014 Church 520 Packard and others... Please call (313) 761-1523 Today! Free Preview Scree-ning For University of Michigan Students Wednesday, February 3, 7:30 pm UA Movies at Briarwood Free passes at Michigan Union ground floor lobby, Jan. 29 - Feb. 2, 11:30 am - 2:30 pm. W I 8:30 -9:30 I I kMs ieL"