Boom Crash Opera - Dancing In The Storm

BOOM CRASH OPERA
Dancing In The Storm (Liberation Blue)
released May 2009 on iTunes Incredibly, this is Boom Crash Opera’s first UK release (albeit digital) since 1987! Though they were, of course, more active in their native Australia. For the uninitiated, the BCO sound reverberates somewhere between the melodic rock of INXS and pop sensibilities of Icehouse ending up with a hint of Tears for Fears in the process.

That was then, however and the ensuing art/commerce battle has since prevented them from releasing the records they wanted, and so to this acoustic rebirth. It's named after one of their best known songs and incorporates others from the first three albums plus ‘Ordinary Heaven,’ hitherto unreleased.

Of those familiar, most have been acoustically rechristened with a somewhat dad-rock swagger embellished by slide guitar and piano. ‘Get Out of the House’ – best known in the UK as theme to I’m a Celebrity Get me out of Here as much as most here remain faithful to their originals. Best of all though, are those given a different twist all together: recorded in rural Victoria.

‘Hands Up in the Air’ has an almost saloon bar of the wild west appeal, ‘Love Me to Death’ smoulders with slow burning bass pulse and a striking re-interpretation of ‘Talk About It,’ is imbued by a sombre piano and eerie electronic shimmer (yes, they cheated a bit but the result was worth it) that slouches towards Nancy or Frank Sinatra terrain and is perfectly executed by a band that is wonderfully rejoined by co-founder Richard Pleasance; whose mandolin playing really is the sonic equivalent of an old friend giving you a hug at the station. Welcome back!

Kelvin Hayes (Unverified), 07/05/09

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