Search - Spoons :: Vertigo Tango

The Spoons at their best

Yvon J. Loiselle | Monterrey, Mexico | 10/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You may have only heard of The Spoons from hearing Nova Heart, one of the most popular new wave songs to be authored by Canadians in the 80's. They did come out with Romantic Traffic which got a lot of airplay, as well. The foundation of the band, high school sweethearts Gordon Deppe (vocals, guitars) and Sandy Horne (bass, vocals) saw changes in the band's line-up a few times, but Deppe's musical genius rings true in Vertigo Tango.



The last album for the band before calling it quits in the mid-late 90's, Vertigo Tango is a polished album making virtually every song a veritable hit. The radio-friendly production certainly blended well with their masterful songwriting. The single "Waterline" was an important comeback hit in the late 80's; however, the other nine tracks didn't get much airplay, which was a shame, considering Deppe's songwriting abilities.



The songs have a pop-oriented feel, which may or may not appeal to you, but they get under your skin. After a couple of listens, this was one of my favourite albums of 1988.



This band had the opportunity of opening up for big headliner names in the early 80's, David Bowie, The Smiths, to mention just a couple. After several years on the retro circuit in the 90's, the now defunct band has seen a couple of reunions, namely in the Toronto area, from where they hail. Deppe joined other talented musicians to form Fluid, a three-member alt-rock album titled "5 Star Fall" in the late 90's. It's quite a departure from Vertigo Tango, which may or may not offer Spoons fans a musical snack.



Hope this review helped.



Yvon Loiselle, Monterrey, Mexico"