Originally released in 1976 and hot on the heels of their popular Sunburst Finish album, Modern Music was another big seller for Be Bop Deluxe and saw the band perhaps at the peak of their short career. Esoteric Recordings has done a fantastic job with the BBD catalog on these remaster/reissue sets, and this one is no exception. Disc 1 features the original stereo mix, and over on Disc 2 you get the new 2019 stereo remix as well as a few bonus tracks, plus a killer booklet filled with commentary from both Bill Nelson & Mark Powell, plenty of photographs and album session notes.
To say that Be Bop Deluxe was one of the more eclectic bands to come out of the '70s British rock scene is an understatement, and Modern Music continued to push the boundaries of their genre defying music. Part art rock, part glam rock, part psychedelia, and part English pop, Be Bop Deluxe rode the superior guitar playing skills of leader, vocalist, and songwriter Nelson through five studio albums, of which Modern Music was the fourth. A wealth of standout tracks can be found on this one, including the Todd Rundgren's Utopia sounding "Twilight Capers", the rich prog/art rock of "Orphans of Babylon", the anthemic pop-rock of "Kiss of Light", the liquid guitar tones of "The Gold at the End of My Rainbow", the futuristic title track, which blends pop and jazz-fusion, and the blazing prog of "Dance of the Uncle Sam Humanoids". Intelligent, tasty rocker "Forbidden Lovers" is another memorable track, while the bonus cut "Shine" sees the band getting into some funky vibes, complete with plenty of sizzling Nelson guitar licks. Also in the band for this album was Andrew Clark (keyboards), Charles Tumahai (bass), and Simon Fox (drums).
As on all the other Be Bop Deluxe reissues, Esoteric have done a fantastic job with this set. The new stereo mix sounds full & bright, giving an already masterful recording some new clarity. Highly recommended.
Track Listing
DISC ONE: CD
MODERN MUSIC
THE ORIGINAL STEREO MIX:
1. ORPHANS OF BABYLON
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS
3. KISS OF LIGHT
4. THE BIRD CHARMERS DESTINY
5. THE GOLD AT THE END OF MY RAINBOW
6. BRING BACK THE SPARK
7. MODERN MUSIC
8. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT (ALL ALONE)
9. HONEYMOON ON MARS
10. LOST IN THE NEON WORLD
11. DANCE OF THE UNCLE SAM HUMANOIDS
12. MODERN MUSIC (REPRISE)
13. FORBIDDEN LOVERS
14. DOWN ON TERMINAL STREET
15. MAKE THE MUSIC MAGIC
BONUS TRACK
16. SHINE (B-SIDE OF SINGLE)
DISC TWO: CD
MODERN MUSIC
THE NEW STEREO MIX:
1. ORPHANS OF BABYLON (NEW STEREO MIX)
2. TWILIGHT CAPERS (NEW STEREO MIX)
3. KISS OF LIGHT (NEW STEREO MIX)
4. THE BIRD CHARMERS DESTINY
(NEW STEREO MIX)
5. THE GOLD AT THE END OF MY RAINBOW
(NEW STEREO MIX)
6. BRING BACK THE SPARK (NEW STEREO MIX)
7. MODERN MUSIC (NEW STEREO MIX)
8. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT (ALL ALONE)
(NEW STEREO MIX)
9. HONEYMOON ON MARS (NEW STEREO MIX)
10. LOST IN THE NEON WORLD (NEW STEREO MIX)
11. DANCE OF THE UNCLE SAM HUMANOIDS
(NEW STEREO MIX)
12. MODERN MUSIC (REPRISE) (NEW STEREO MIX)
13. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (NEW STEREO MIX)
14. DOWN ON TERMINAL STREET (NEW STEREO MIX)
15. MAKE THE MUSIC MAGIC (NEW STEREO MIX)
BONUS TRACKS
16. SHINE (NEW STEREO MIX)
17. FORBIDDEN LOVERS (FIRST VERSION)
18. THE BIRD CHARMER’S DESTINY (FIRST VERSION)
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