Drastic Plastic

Drastic Plastic
Studio album by Be-Bop Deluxe
Released	February 1978
Recorded	Summer 1977
Genre	New Wave, Synthpop, Art Rock
Label	Harvest
Producer	John Leckie Bill Nelson
Be-Bop Deluxe chronology
Modern Music (1977) Drastic Plastic (1978)
Singles from Drastic Plastic
"Panic In The World" Released: January 1978 (January 1978) "Electrical Language" Released: May 1978 (May 1978)

Drastic Plastic is the last album of Art rock band Be-Bop Deluxe, released in February 1978^[1]. It was recorded in Chateau Saint Georges, Juan-les-Pins, in the south of France in the summer of 1977.^[2]

The material is different from the previous albums, showing changes in the musical direction of the band. Their style, although it maintained some of the progressive and glam standards, was more synthpop and new wave oriented.

Nelson recorded the album in Chateau Saint Georges, because he was inspired by the relation of the place with artist Jean Cocteau, who influenced him in the 1960s.

The song "Islands Of The Dead" is a song dedicated to Nelson's father, Walter, who died in 1976.

The band split up shortly after the releasing of the album. By the time of the disbanding, Nelson was writing material destined to be part of the Be-Bop Deluxe repertoire, but was destined to his next band, Red Noise, formed alongside keyboardist Andy Clarke and Nelson's brother Ian. Red Noise released a more electronic album than Drastic Plastic, Sound On Sound, in 1979. That band and album were considered as post-Be-Bop Deluxe. Shortly afterwards, Nelson decided to continue his career as soloist, releasing more synthpop albums.

Nelson only maintained Andy Clark in his future projects. After Be-Bop Deluxe split up, bassist Charlie Tumahai played with other bands in Britain seven more years, returning to his native New Zealand in 1985, where he joined reggae band Herbs, continuing with his career until his death, in 1995. Simon Fox worked with Trevor Rabin, formed Blazer Blazer and joined The Pretty Things.

Track listing

All tracks by Bill Nelson

Original UK release (February 1978)

1. "Electrical Language"
2. "New Precision"
3. "New Mysteries"
4. "Surreal Estate"
5. "Love In Flames"
6. "Panic In The World"
7. "Dangerous Stranger"
8. "Superenigmatix (lethal appliances for the home with everything)"
9. "Visions of Endless Hopes"
10. "Possession"
11. "Islands Of The Dead"

CD Reissue

1. "Electrical Language" – 4:50
2. "New Precision" – 4:30
3. "New Mysteries" – 4:44
4. "Surreal Estate" – 5:00
5. "Love In Flames" – 4:09
6. "Panic In The World" – 5:04
7. "Dangerous Stranger" – 3:05
8. "Superenigmatix (lethal appliances for the home with everything)" – 2:10
9. "Visions of Endless Hopes" – 2:23
10. "Possession" – 2:34
11. "Islands Of The Dead" – 3:45
12. "Blimps" – 2:46
13. "Lovers Are Mortal" – 4:54
14. "Lights" – 2:43

Personnel

• Bill Nelson - Lead vocals, electric guitar, 12 string guitar
• Charlie Tumahai - Bass guitar, backing vocals
• Andy Clark - Keyboards and Synthesizer
• Simon Fox - Drums

References

1. ^ Be-Bop Deluxe Discography
2. ^ Drastic Plastic album sleevenotes. Kevin Cann, 1990

External links

• Be Bop Deluxe Discography
• MySpace: Be Bop Deluxe ('78) MySpace site dedicated to the Drastic Plastic era