| Bis Return To Central (Spin Art Records) |
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“We’re Complicated” opens with the lyrics, “I’m sure you won’t remember me, I’m not the man I used to be.” Perhaps that can be seen as a statement of intent, as Bis has advanced to a musical territory not quite their own. More electronic and expansive, you’d be forgiven for not recognizing this as Bis right off the bat. Gone is Manda Rin’s riot girl yelling. In it’s place are more melodic vocals. And the political epic album opener, “What You’re Afraid Of” is a full seven minutes, twelve seconds long, when most of Bis’ previous work was short and punchy. |
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| This
without a doubt Bis’ most ambitious and accomplished
work to date. The Scottish threesome had moments of scattered
brillance in the past, but with this album they finally graduate
from the ‘guilty pleasure’ category to the ranks
of a band you can fully respect. Perhaps this record is lacking
some of the fun of “Eurodisco” or “Kandy
Pop,” but Return to Central is a more sophisticated effort
that will better stand the test of time. There is a retro futurism
quality here, ala Ladytron or Alpine Stars. This sounds like
an album recorded on an 80s moon base, and fittingly the last
track is entitled “A Portrait From Space.” |
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8
blips out of 10
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By
Mark Redfern
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We
asked Bis’ Manda Rin how she felt her band’s
sound had advanced with Return to Central, here’s
what she had to say:
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“ We’ve
always been trying to make a certain album, but never quite
got there. Right in the beginning we were a different kind
of band, we had a drum machine and keyboards, and yet were
using guitars and two vocals. So we could never fit into one
genre perfectly. And then towards the second album we were
getting somewhere, you could tell that things were coming together
and the electronic side was kind of being hinted at. But this
album I think is the one we’ve always been trying to
make. And it sits as an album, it doesn’t sound like
a bunch of songs that have just been stuck together. Which
is what we thought the second album wasn’t, but now that
I look back on it, it is. So I’m really pleased with
the way this album came out, because it seems more of a package.
And it’s smoother and it goes from one song to the other
nicely. And everyone has a different favorite, which is a good
sign of an album as well. It’s not just that the best
three are at the front, it’s a proper kind of album
that will grow with people as well. You can listen to it
and listen
to it and not get sick of it, which is a good thing as well.” |
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| bisnation.com Questioned by Mark Redfern Photo By Wendy Lynch |
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