Although I'm not certain whether this is an 'official' Bongo Beat release, this savvy 12-track sampler CD showcases the typically off-kilter and power-pop heavy talents about to be unleashed by the aforementioned Canadian label at the annual International Pop Overthrow Festival at Liverpool's famous Cavern Club.
If you're a regular round these parts, you'll probably already know that Bongo Beat are an old skool and truly individualistic label based in Vancouver, Canada. Founded by one Ralph Alfonso - ex-rock journo/ photographer/ record label executive for Nettwerk/ EMI/ author and perfromer in his own right (we'll get to that shortly) and impresario made in the one-of-a-kind, Kim Fowley-meets-Alan-McGee mould - BB have released a string of great, uncompromising albums over the past few years. And, where the likes of their artists as diverse as DAVE RAVE, LINDA McLEAN and KEVIN HOUSE are concerned, W&H have been happily wide to receive.
The hugely-talented DAVE RAVE is one of four Bongo Beat artists to feature on this sampler CD, although his two BB albums (cut with guitarist MARK McCARRON) are something of a departure from the more immediate, hard pop sound of his regular solo work. In tandem with McCarron, he creates lush, jazz/ blues-inflected work and shows off his Sinatra-esque crooning prowess on a lovely version of 'The Song Is You'. Even better, though, are the two original songs he contributes here: the gorgeously resigned 'At The End Of Day' filled with strings and woodwind and the plaintive 'All Over The World', taken from the classic 'Valentino's Pirates' LP. Both are swoonsome Dave at his best and remain two of the most affecting songs this writer has heard. Period.
So while there's no doubt Dave will be a major rave (again) at the IPO, several of his BB label mates sound like they will give him a run for his money. Equally legendary in their Canadian homeland are THE DIODES, who actually rode the original New Wave back in the heady days of '76-'78.
The recipients of feverish prose from the likes of sussed observers such as Jon Savage at the time, this quartet ran Toronto's notorious punk club Crash'n'Burn and signed to CBS in 1977. Around this time they cut several evergreen guitar pop classics in the shape of 'Red Rubber Ball' and 'Tired of Waking Up Tired' and garnered comparisons with the likes of Buzzcocks and the hated Generation X. It's not hard to see why, as these tunes (included here with the equally sparky 'Weekend') have aged very nicely indeed. They all feature on Bongo Beat's 'Best Of The Diodes' CD and that's a must-have for any self-respecting Power Pop/ New Wave fan's shelf.
Elsewhere, LA-based newcomer ARI SHINE demonstrates that Bongo Beat's antenna remains reliable where new signings are concerned. Shine contributes three tunes to this sampler and the chewy, riffsmart arrogance and sunshine combination of songs such as 'Crank It Out' and the lippy 'Cooler Than Me' prove to be instantly likeable whacks to the gut for fans of early Costello and the Knack/ Raspberries school of gritty, radio-friendly guitar pop. Shine has been laying down his sussed choons with legendary LA producer Earle Mankey (Sparks, Dickies, millions more) an even when synths and beatboxes accompany the chugging guitars - as on the wicked 'Flirtation Device' - he's onto a winner. Remember his name.
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Inevitably, the wild card in the pack is RALPH himself. A huge Billy Fury fan, Alfonso's 2004 IPO set found him dragging Soft Boys/ Katrina & The Waves guitarist (and fellow Bongo Beat artist) Kimberley Rew onstage for a raw set of rock'n'roll tunes and with an ever-changing stage line-up and songs dedicated to everyone from John Coltrane to Jack Kerouac, you're never quite sure what in hell Ralph will present you with.
Typically, his three songs here: the Bo Diddley-esque tribute to being on the road with cool groups in the '60s in 'Vox Guitars', the mutant Hamell On Trial-meets-Patrik Fitzgerald of 'Gene Vincent Died In My Arms Last Night' and the drifting, supper club jazz of the cool 'Goodbye Jack Kerouac' suggest that Ralph ever shaking hands with a recognised musical 'direction' is unlikely at best. But then, when it's this fascinating and anarchic, who cares?
Bongo Beat Records, then, represent the best independent tradition of quality first and ripping up the increasingly formulaic rulebook for modern rock'n'roll. They're just the sort of thing we're happy to endorse at W&H and if you've got any opportunity at all, I'd make for Liverpool on May 24th and 25th this year. I seriously doubt you'll regret it.
www.bongobeat.com
www.bullseyecanada.com
(The INTERNATIONAL POP OVERTHROW FESTIVAL showcase gigs take place @ Liverpool's Cavern Club on May 24th and 25th. Admission to all shows is FREE and you can catch the Bongo Beat artists RALPH, DAVE RAVE, THE DIODES,ARI SHINE and PLASTIC HEROES playing between 9PM and Midnight on the 24th and between 3.30PM to 7PM on the 25th)
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