Music review: Bananarama – 鈥橧n Stereo鈥�
Bananarama is back.
The all-girl group, now down to original members Sara Dallin and Keren Woodward, revisits the glory days of the 1980s when Bananarama heated up the airwaves with infectious treats like the cool and melodic 鈥淐ruel Summer,鈥� the chart-topping 鈥淰enus鈥� and the irresistible pop flavorings of 鈥淚 Heard a Rumour.鈥�
鈥淏een a long time,鈥� sings the sweet-sounding pair on the album opener 鈥淟ove in Stereo.鈥� It indeed has been a sizable amount of time between new offerings. 鈥淚n Stereo鈥� is Bananarama鈥檚 11th studio release and first album in 10 years since 鈥淰iva.鈥�
The new material serves as a slick collection of hypnotic dance arrangements, covering topics such as looking for love, losing love and living in the moment.
鈥淒ance Music鈥� is the album鈥檚 pulsating headliner that is alluring and mysterious in detailing the thrill of getting completely caught up in the music on a crowded dance floor in search of the perfect partner.
鈥淚ntoxicated鈥� continues to relay the feeling of excitement when a connection is made from across the room and the sparks begin to fly with the music adding to the adventure currently unfolding step by step.
Tracks like 鈥淭onight,鈥� 鈥淟ooking for Someone鈥� and 鈥淪tuff Like That鈥� focus directly on the search for that special person who can turn things around after dreams come crashing down and hope seems all but lost.
鈥淕ot to Get Away鈥� carries a nonchalant 鈥淐ruel Summer鈥� vibe as it deals with moving forward and making a fresh start in a new and unfamiliar place.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Gonna Be Alright鈥� addresses moving beyond a failed relationship in order to find someone true.
The set comes to a haunting and beautiful end with 鈥淥n Your Own,鈥� a song about finally finding love, only to let it go when you discover it isn鈥檛 what you expected.
In the end, 鈥淚n Stereo鈥� proves to be a splendid listen and continues to spotlight the successful career of the British pop duo.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.