Genre: rnew wave
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Dancing Underneath
Company: DB
Catalog: DB-57
Year: 1981
Country/State: Athens Georgia
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: 12" 33 rpm EP, minor edge wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5058
Price: $20.00
So have you ever wondered what The B-52s would have sounded like had they ditched Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson and indulged in a diet that was heavy on speed? Well Method Actors might give you the answer.
Based in Athens the band consisted of singer/drummer David Gamble and singer/guitarist Vic Varney. Caught up in the late-1970s craze for all things Athens, the pair briefly moved to New York where they hit the local club circuit. Ironically, their initial break came back in Georgia where Armageddon Records owner Peter Dyer caught one of their shows and offered them a deal on his UK-based Armageddon label. The pair subsequently debuted with 1981's UK-only "Rhythms of You". Trying to catch up, the Athens-based DB label signed them to a US distribution deal, promptly releasing the "Dancing Underneath". Lifting four tracks from the earlier UK release, the US version dropped three songs ('She', 'Distortion' and 'You') and added 'E-Y-E' to the track listing. Listening to material like the title track and 'No Condition' you can tell these guys shared some of the same interests and backgrounds as contemporaries like The B-52s, Love Tractor, Pylon, REM and maybe even a little Tom Verlaine and Television (Varney's falsetto bore a passing resemblance to the latter). Maybe it's just me, but in contrast Gamble's voice sounded like Lou Reed with a Georgia accent (check out 'No Condition'). Propelled by the pair's wired sing/song vocals, Varney's rudimentary guitar (which frequently sounded out of tune) and Gamble's surprisingly kicka*s drumming, their sound reflected a mix of anxious herky-jerky rhythms that wouldn't have sounded out of place on The B-52s debut album. With the exception of 'Privilege' and 'My Time' it wasn't particularly melodic, but it was energetic and goofy fun.
As you probably guessed, they didn't do squat in the States, but met with critical acclaim in the UK.
"Dancing
Underneath" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Dancing Underneath (Dvaid Gamble - Vic Varney) - 4:45
2.) Privilege (Dvaid Gamble - Vic Varney) - 2:00
3.) No
Condition (Dvaid Gamble - Vic Varney) - 4:00
(side
2)
1.) E-Y-E (Dvaid Gamble - Vic Varney) - 5:40
2.) My Time (Dvaid Gamble - Vic Varney) - 1:45
By the way, if you were curious about these guys, here's an old promo shot I found on-line:
Also, incase anyone's interested Varney has a small website at: