"Women Are Not Just Mindless Bodies" Shock
[Sounds, 14th March 1981. Words: Karen Swayne.]
"WOMEN ARE NOT JUST MINDLESS BODIES" SHOCK
Passions / Depeche Mode / Modern Man
Lyceum
For a band who appear on the ‘Some Bizzare’ album, Depeche Mode are about as bizarre as a cheese sandwich. Not only is their music incredibly dreary – electronic pomp-rock at its least original – but they spent the whole set hunched over their synthesizers twiddling knobs, and generally trying not to let their image slip.
Modern Man are a slightly less stereotyped “futurist” band who opened with the ironic ‘Things Could Be Better If Only You’d Give Me A Chance’. Well, you’ve had your chance mate, and things can only get better. They at least managed to fit in guitars and drums, but their sub-Skids songs and long drawn out vocals began to irritate after a while, as did the Ferry-like posturings of the lead singer. (Memo to guitarist – are you sure futurism is the right music for you? Wide lapels and flares just aren’t this year’s thing.)
Are The Passions the next futurist band? A section of the audience seemed to think so, but had to suffer the indignity of rubbing caped shoulders with the anoraks of those who had heard ‘Film Star’ on Radio One, and who’d gone along to take a look at this “new” band. Happily the Passions faced this motley collection with new confidence, handling their sudden popularity well and giving a smooth but powerful performance.
Barbara Gogan’s pure voice, rising beyond the echoing guitars, sounds not unlike a more wistful Chrissie Hynde. The Passions have been accused of being cold and distant in the past, but now their emotion is evident.
‘I’m In Love With A German Film Star’, the song many people came to hear, was introduced in a mumbled, almost embarrassed fashion. During this number they also used the time-honoured Heavy Metal special effect of dry ice, a device which often seems contrived but on this occasion managed to enhance the mood, rather than detracting from the music.
At times, Barbara came forward in a blunt confrontation with the audience. The Passions are not an obviously feminist / political band, but their song ‘Why Me?’ was introduced as “a rather bitter little number”, and she spat out the lyrics at the males ogling her at the front: “You call us the weaker sex / When it’s you that made us weak / You fool us with sexual delight / Then you threaten us with physical might,” hopefully putting the ‘stronger sex’ who use women solely as sexual diversions firmly in their place. Women are not just mindless bodies, and if a few more bands wrote songs which reflected this then maybe it would eventually get through to the millions of morons who are still under this impression.
To get back to the main issue, the Passions are a band who are in total control of their material, and perform with the ease of those who feel that their time has finally come. With the Sheena Eastons and Joe Dolces of this world at the top of the charts, I can only hope so. This group deserves to be more than a one hit wonder.
[Sounds, 14th March 1981. Words: Karen Swayne.]
"WOMEN ARE NOT JUST MINDLESS BODIES" SHOCK
Passions / Depeche Mode / Modern Man
Lyceum
For a band who appear on the ‘Some Bizzare’ album, Depeche Mode are about as bizarre as a cheese sandwich. Not only is their music incredibly dreary – electronic pomp-rock at its least original – but they spent the whole set hunched over their synthesizers twiddling knobs, and generally trying not to let their image slip.
Modern Man are a slightly less stereotyped “futurist” band who opened with the ironic ‘Things Could Be Better If Only You’d Give Me A Chance’. Well, you’ve had your chance mate, and things can only get better. They at least managed to fit in guitars and drums, but their sub-Skids songs and long drawn out vocals began to irritate after a while, as did the Ferry-like posturings of the lead singer. (Memo to guitarist – are you sure futurism is the right music for you? Wide lapels and flares just aren’t this year’s thing.)
Are The Passions the next futurist band? A section of the audience seemed to think so, but had to suffer the indignity of rubbing caped shoulders with the anoraks of those who had heard ‘Film Star’ on Radio One, and who’d gone along to take a look at this “new” band. Happily the Passions faced this motley collection with new confidence, handling their sudden popularity well and giving a smooth but powerful performance.
Barbara Gogan’s pure voice, rising beyond the echoing guitars, sounds not unlike a more wistful Chrissie Hynde. The Passions have been accused of being cold and distant in the past, but now their emotion is evident.
‘I’m In Love With A German Film Star’, the song many people came to hear, was introduced in a mumbled, almost embarrassed fashion. During this number they also used the time-honoured Heavy Metal special effect of dry ice, a device which often seems contrived but on this occasion managed to enhance the mood, rather than detracting from the music.
At times, Barbara came forward in a blunt confrontation with the audience. The Passions are not an obviously feminist / political band, but their song ‘Why Me?’ was introduced as “a rather bitter little number”, and she spat out the lyrics at the males ogling her at the front: “You call us the weaker sex / When it’s you that made us weak / You fool us with sexual delight / Then you threaten us with physical might,” hopefully putting the ‘stronger sex’ who use women solely as sexual diversions firmly in their place. Women are not just mindless bodies, and if a few more bands wrote songs which reflected this then maybe it would eventually get through to the millions of morons who are still under this impression.
To get back to the main issue, the Passions are a band who are in total control of their material, and perform with the ease of those who feel that their time has finally come. With the Sheena Eastons and Joe Dolces of this world at the top of the charts, I can only hope so. This group deserves to be more than a one hit wonder.