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Return to Central
Bis
Return to Central
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #1

Glasgow's Bis tweak their indie pop quirkiness on their fourth album, Return to Central, and it's a desirable and funkadelic feel-good mix of Bis' signature disco hooks and thick pop beats. Surely their most ambitious rele...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Bis
Title: Return to Central
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Universal/Fullfill
Original Release Date: 1/1/2001
Re-Release Date: 1/16/2006
Album Type: Import
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop
Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, Dance Pop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 684340000687

Synopsis

Album Description
Glasgow's Bis tweak their indie pop quirkiness on their fourth album, Return to Central, and it's a desirable and funkadelic feel-good mix of Bis' signature disco hooks and thick pop beats. Surely their most ambitious release, Bis shrug off their post-pubescent punk-pop snarlings and kiddie chants found on The New Transistor Heroes and Intendo and make Return to Central a vibrant twist in their Teen-C Revolution. Manda Rin tames her little girl rants for something sassy, tossing all criticism aside to transcend into electronic bliss. She and Bis cohorts John Disco and Sci-Fi Steve frolic with new wave synth breaks, and let their fondness for Talk Talk, New Order, and Can be known. Bis isn't consumed with angst for the music follower, for they'd rather spiral into club land in their own musical mystery. Return to Central allows Bis to relish in their fun and self-indulgence without them being regarded as snotty indie punks. A sophistication is cast, spawning Bis' bold move from "Kandy Pop."

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CD Reviews

Like the Spice Girls, except good
Jemiah Jefferson | Portland, OR, USA | 06/29/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a passionate Bis fan for a couple of years now, since I heard "New Transistor Heroes" on the recommendation/shoving of a friend. Their lighthearted, but clear-eyed approach to lyrical subjects like self-esteem and gender politics meshed beautifully with truly impressive songwriting and musicianship from such young people. "Return To Central" is hugely different in sound and subject from Bis's chipper early days (I hesitate to say "snarky" again, but it's true). Certainly there is a maturity to the sound - the production is almost too lush and dense, and the formerly happy shrieking of Manda Rin and John Disco has been transformed into careful singing and harmony. The end product is just a hair away from being brilliant - perhaps a different producer would have helped bring this to fruition. As it is, it's sort of a muddle - a little too adult-contempo friendly for my tastes, much like the Spice Girls' better written and produced songs, except uniformly gloomy in outlook and sound. It's neither fish nor fowl, and after six enthusiastic listens, I can't say that it's one of my favorites."
Wow
Darrell Wong | Hawaii, USA | 06/07/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)

"The difference between this and Social Dancing: Social Dancing is highly offbeat pop with an inescapably cultural influence. Return to Central is offbeat with an inescapably cultural influence, and it doesn't even pretend to be pop. This is easily the grittiest, edgiest, and (yes) darkest work they've ever done. And all I can say, really is...cool. ("Hella" cool, if you prefer.) Not for everybody and certainly doesn't fit anybody's definition of pop...but then, that's pretty much always been the point, hasn't it?



Lyrics could be a *little* more understandable, and the "filler" tracks, Black Pepper and Metal Box, are just redundant. Outstanding work otherwise. Damn shame it ended up being their swan song."