I have done a new remix of More Than Physical - inspired partly by the disco sound they gave it on the OLU Tour and also with a dash of acid house for late 80s dance vibes. I used the original 12" vocal track so no SAW locs but does include the "set on you" solo refrain from Siobhan which was the basis for that dance track. Enjoy!
The BBC did a retrospect with Keren and Sara about their career. I thought it was lovely. Gosh, Sara and Keren get some facts wrong (mostly years). But it was nice what they said about Jacquie, and their fans who travel abroad to see them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m...AyGozOxRKOFhq8MVZFmn2PCJvR-ZyKKcoZRg9XAaKyO8o
It's funny when Keren says she can't tell who is saying what during an early interview. Makes me wonder if they would have a hard time now telling who is singing what on 80s tracks.
Now we have had the Masquerade album 2 whole months how does everyone rate it now? For me I’ve got to be honest I really haven’t listened to it like I did with In Stereo and even way before that Drama and Viva. However, when I do give it a spin it’s so cohesive and a great body of work… I guess the taster tracks/singles just haven’t grabbed me like previous eras!
It’s fine. I haven’t had any new favorites pop up so it’s really just “Stay Wild” while everything else is just good.
The album is one of my favorite Bananarama albums, without a doubt (my partner agrees). Loved all the singles much more than anything from In Stereo and the album as a whole is probably on a similar scale to Drama for me.
I am still listening to Masquerade daily either in full or as part of mix. Two months after release I still love this album. Along with Tears For Fears's Tipping Point and Oliver Sims' Hideous Bastards, Masquerade sits in my top 3 albums of 2022.
Usually when I drive, I don't have time for the full album, so my playlist goes something like this ... Favourite Stay Wild Velvet Lies Running With The Night —or— Brand New —or— Forever Young Waiting For The Sun To Shine I always try to get to the last track before I make it home.
Masquerade is the best duo album, their best album since Pop Life, and is one of my favourite pop albums in the last 10 years.
I’d agree with this to be fair. I don’t hammer Bananarama albums in terms of play but I always play this one start to finish when I put it on.
I definitely enjoy "Masquerade", it is a solid album. Is it my favourite duo album? Probably not but ranks among the better duo albums for me. It has been a grower for me and I am enjoying it probably more on each listen whereas "In Stereo" was more of an instant connection with me on very early listens. Rankarama: 1. WOW 2. In Stereo 3. Pop life 4. True confessions 5. Bananarama 6. Drama 7. Masquerade 8. Viva 9. Ultra Violet 10. Deep sea skiving 11. Please yourself 12. Exotica
I think I like it more than In Stereo, but less than the other duo albums from the last 20 years. I'd say: Pop Life Bananarama Deep Sea Skiving Ultra Violet Wow Drama Viva Please Yourself True Confessions Masquerade In Stereo Exotica
If I had to try and rank all the albums: True Confessions Pop Life Wow Masquerade Drama Viva Bananarama In Stereo Deep Sea Skiving Ultra Violet Please Yourself Exotica
Wynaut join in: Bananarama True Confessions Deep Sea Skiving Pop Life Viva Wow Drama Masquerade In Stereo Ultra Violet Please Yourself Exotica
Adding my 2 pence worth Pop Life Wow! Please Yourself Drama Ultra Violet True Confessions Masquerade Viva Bananarama Deep Sea Skiving In Stereo Exotica
Their albums are still hard to get through for me, but Drama and Masquerade would probably be my favorites?
Masquerade has its moments and i’m glad fans are enjoying it. For me it’s a collection of “fine” songs. There aren’t really highs and lows. They’re on auto pilot. Appreciating they are still around is great and all, but the music quite simply isn’t as interesting as it used to be. Forever Young is a standout for me. As is Favourite. But the album is mostly samey
Good question. Definitely in the upper half of their albums, perhaps in my top 3 and easily my favourite duo album. It doesn’t reach the heights of Pop Life or Wow, but it has some of my favourite Bananarama songs of all time: Velvet Lies, Forever Young, Masquerade, Stay Wild, Favourite - all solid bangers. It had solid replay value for me.
Bananarama Wow! True Confessions Pop life Deap sea skiving Masquerade In stereo Drama Viva Please yourself Ultra violet Exotica. The self titled should NEVER be in a low ranking when it's absolutely 100% Bananarama distilled. Two absolute classic singles
I think Masquerade is the best album Ian Masterson has produced and I think it does have variety. Quite a few of the songs remind me of other album eras, Bad Love is a bit SAW, Give Me A Little More Time is like a mid tempo track from Ultra Violet like Maybe The Next Time. Lets Go Outside sounds a little Siobhan era. The use of vocoder on some of the songs remind me of The Visitors by ABBA. Masquerade is very Drama. Brand New reminds me of Sugababes 2.0 in a good way. True Confessions Bananarama Pop Life Wow! Masquerade Deep Sea Skiving Drama In Stereo Viva Please Yourself Ultra Violet Exotica The top 3 are interchangeable.
