Page 10- The Michigan Doily - Thursday, June 9, 1983
Records
Bananarama is pop music's answer
to a female group that surpasses the
"hard girl" rocker image established
by musicians like Pat Benatar, Joan
Jett, and Patti Smith. Yet it's hard to
label the girls as cutesy rock 'n' rollers
like the Go-Go's. Their highly dan-
ceable, hummable melodies are devoid
of the electric guitar screams that reek
of motorcycles and leather, while in the
same respect the trio goes beyond
today's stereotypical female rock
musicians.
Deep Sea Skiving
Bananarama
Polygram
As the name Bananarama itself
suggests, the threesome (Siobhan
Fahey, Sarah Dallin, and Keren Wood-
ward) constitute a fun group devoted to
creating happy tunes. Tribal rhythms
forge the foundation for a majority of
their songs and are thus responsible for
their alluring, upbeat style.
Their first two British hits, "Really
Sayin' Something" and "Aie a Mwana"
met with much success in dance clubs
across the U.S. when released as a 12"
single last year. With their debut album
Deep Sea Skiving just recently released
on Poly Gram records, the girls offer an
entire LP of happy hits, keeping in style
with their original singles.
Bananarama formed in early 1981
when Siobhan, Sarah and Keren
decided to live together in a London
flat. Fortunately for the girls they were
strategically located upstairs from the
rehearsal studio of the
Professionals-known to some as the
Sex Pistols off-shoot band.
Ex-Pistol and professional drummer
Paul Cook invited the girls to sing with
their band, liked what e heard, and the
rest was history for our female trio.
Cook went on to co-produce
Bnanarama's initial single "Aie a
Mwana" and got the girls their start in
the direction of music that they do so
well.
Bandmember Siobhan Fahey ex-
plains of their admittedly silly moniker,
"We just wanted a silly name that ex-
pressed enjoyment and lighthearted-
ness. Our first single was sung in
Swahili, so we thought of something
tropical-bananas-and added the
'rama' because it sounded silly."
Deep Sea Skiving is chocked full of
dance and syntho-pop type tunes that
make dancing to them great fun.
Although their version of the group
Steam's #1 hit, "Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Kiss
Him Goodbye" just barely passes being
a monotonous rendition, it serves as one
of the more delightful pieces on the LP.
Another hit the girls score from this,
Siobhan Fahey Sarah Dallnn Kere Woodward sighappy hits on thteir
debut LP 'Deep Sea Skiving'
their debut album, is "Shy Boy," which Deep Sea Skiving is highly recommen-
features a strong melody over the dan- ded by this reviewer. Stylish female
ce rhythms. rockers they are-Olivia Newton-John
Without pussy-footing around those types they are not.
hard rock beats, Bananarama offers
fun music that really keeps one dan--MreHds
cing. So if you're in the mood for a good--MaeHd s
time when you turn on your stereo,
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Dail1y
Tyrone Branson/Sticky Situation/
Columbia
Tyrone Brunson's been the
beneficiary of some good hype, and
"The Smurf" was a bit hit single, but I
still find his music incredibly dull.
Brunson's got dexterity, but he
possesses little noticeable vocal talent,
and his songs are merely groove sket-
ches. "New Wave Disco Punk Funk
Rock" is the best title, and probably the
best song as well.
Cameo/Style/ Polygra m
If you're not familiar with these guys,
you ought to be. They have the tightest
funk sound of any band in the business,
but have always lacked the strong and
distinctive material which they deser-
ve. Last year's Alligator Woman began
to rectify that situation, but Style, un-
fortunately, goes no further. The title
cut (which is also the first single) is a
slightly modified re-working of "Be
Yourself", from Alligator Woman, but
more interesting are "Cameo's Dan-
ce," and "This Life Is Not For Me." An
album to dance to, with musicianship to
admire, Style still sounds like a mere
workout. If only Larry Blackmon could
write as well as he plays and produces.
Dazz Band/On The One/Motown
These guys are a one-trick act if I
ever heard one. "Let It Whip" was a
fantastic dance floor number, but
despite a leaner synth approach here
and a couple of decent ballads, nothing
on this album approaches it. Several
songs rehash "Whip" adequately,
("Cheek to Cheek") and "On The One
For Fun" was a hit, but will you
remember it three months from now?
Schedule of Prices
$2.50 Spring Half Term
$2.50 Summer Half Term
$3.50 Spring /Summer
$5.00 by Mail
outside of Ann Arbor
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-Leizer Goldsmith
'7.
- I
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