B Movie - Climate of Fear

by Fiona Hutchings

published: 29 / 7 / 2016

Label: Cleopatra Records
Format: CD

intro

Well-crafted latest album from cinematic 80's-formed electronic outfit, B-Movie

B-Movie were formed back in 1978 from the remains of a band called the Aborted. They were originally named Studio 10 after a local hairdressers before singer and bass player Steve Hovington discovered a Andy Warhol painting titled B-Movie and like Hovington the name has stuck around ever since. Guitarist and 'additional instrumentation' player Paul Statham and drummer Graham Boffey are still in place too and pianist, and keyboard player Rick Holliday has been there since the very early days when the band advertised in their native Mansfield for a keyboard player and his was the only response. I can't help but be impressed with bands that not only stay the course for nearly forty years but with the original line-up. It can't always be easy but as listeners we are rewarded with an album that showcases each member's individual talents very successfully. The intro of 'Another False Dawn' reminds me of Joy Division's 'She's Lost Control' before it opens up into a brighter synth sound. 'Come Closer' is more guitar heavy but is beautifully balanced against vocals that invoke a sense of both impending doom and the possibility of sanctuary. 'San Francisco' takes the hippy ideal of wearing flowers in your hair and with an 80's keyboard backing sneers at capitalism. 'Corridors' has a similar synth heavy sound before breaking into a satisfying guitar solo. The vocals are very laid back but the almost frantic drumming makes you feel like you are running down endless corridors desperately looking for a way out. 'Forgotten Souls' has very evocative piano throughout, 'Ghost Land' spins a story about a man alone and perhaps out of his time, and the title track is more upbeat than you might expect. To make a movie and a lot of money all you need, Hovington says, is 'A Girl & A Gun' and by the end of the song I'm inclined to agree. 'The Remnants' is another spooky but more downbeat number - until the wonderfully distorted finale and 'Feeling Gothic' closes proceedings with a tale I suspect any Goth of my acquaintance would both recognise about feeling alienated and like a freak with a darker side yet be able to dance to. The 'deluxe' version of the album provided for review ends with four bonus tracks, all of which are versions of the track 'Nowhere Girl' - the radio edit, Die Krupps vs Leather Strip Remix, extended version and the Deathday Remix. The radio edit is a real 80s-tastic movie theme. The plot would be about a boy meets girl but being unable to connect to her because she is in 'self imposed exile'. He tries and tries but can't seem to reach her. I'd like to think the movie has a happy ending (and that maybe it would feature at least a few of the Brat Pack). This album is well crafted and immensely enjoyable. It will make a welcome edition to any CD collection as an excellent example of how electronica driven music is much more than that casio keyboard sound with the occasional beep in the background.

Track Listing:-

1 Another False Dawn
2 Come Closer
3 San Francisco
4 Corridors
5 Forgotten Souls
6 Ghost Land
7 Climate Of Fear
8 A Girl & A Gun
9 The Remnants
10 Feeling Gothic
11 Nowhere Girl
12 Nowhere Girl (Die Krupps vs. Leæther Strip Remix)
13 Nowhere Girl (Extended)
14 Nowhere Girl (Deathday Remix)

Band Links:-

https://b-movie.bandcamp.com/album/climate-of-fear
https://www.facebook.com/B.MovieMusic
http://www.b-movie.co.uk/

Label Links:-

http://www.cleopatrarecords.com/
https://twitter.com/CleopatraRecord
https://plus.google.com/114470225446916975422/posts
https://www.facebook.com/CleopatraRecords
https://instagram.com/cleopatrarecords/
https://www.youtube.com/user/CleopatraRecords