from THE NOISE Issue #176 - November 1997

   And now, for some of our younger readers, let me tell you about a special time called the eighties. You kids are too young to remember, but it was a simpler time when big hair was all it took to make a girl hot and day glo was a color. You damn kids probably don't even remember the war - Granada! It tore this country in two, God damn it.
   At the time I had my first little rock band and we struggled like mad to play Van Halen covers and keep our Chess King outfits coordinated. Secretly, though, I know that my sister and, infinitely more important, all of her cute friends, thought we were Rush-loving geeks who would never be as cool as... Duran Duran. I'll admit it now, it crushed me. I used to wake my sister up and tell her that Duran Duran's plane had crashed.
   Years later, of course, I can appreciate the finely honed pop anthems of Simon and the boys and I even admit that, perhaps, Quiet Riot were not as important as I thought. Chris Hinckley's Reverse Curve label brings us a single which shows the glory of those years with two Duran classics redone in an affectionate tribute. It's really very good.
   Betty Goo's "Rio" is a half-speed reggae version which double times it to full on ska on the line "at the end of the drive the lawmen arrive." What a great place to accelerate the song. Even though the bass solo was 86'd, the Goos get kudos for rearranging the tune so well.
   The more obscure "The Chauffeur" is given a modern trip hop ambient vibe by Cleveland (which is actually Standing On Earth). This is totally fabulous! Is that Nick Rhodes on keys, for Christ's sake? Completely warped guitar and creative as hell production make this a total keeper. One tiny thing - "sing blue silver" needs to be sung up an octave and slightly flat for that full Lebon powered halo effect.
   Go buy this record now.

(Corin "how about a Kajagoogoo tribute?" Ashley)