BIS
SOCIAL DANCING
by Matt B

Over the past few months, I have become a huge Bis fan basically due to the fact that I have started going to British indie/alternative clubs round Melbourne nearly every weekend and Eurodisco is played nightly. Eurodisco is one of my all time favourite dance tracks and when the electronic keyboard intro starts up, it makes it hard to keep off the dance floor.

I haven't heard anything from Bis' first album 'the new transistor heroes' so I can't say how much they have improved, but their second album 'Social Dancing' is exceptionally good and easily the best cd I have purchased in the last 6 months. I totally recommend it, so go and buy it now!

The lead off track, 'making people normal' is probably my favourite song at the moment. It's a song that makes you want to stand up and start singing. It has a strong pop melody, which is an instant recognition with most Bis tracks. John Disco belts out the chorus, 'You're looking good for your age, looks like you've stepped off the page, thanks rikki thank you jenny, you make me normal today' and with Manda supporting him through the rest of the song,  I'd be very surprised if it isn't the next single off the cd. (so if it is, you heard it first here!)

The surprising thing with Bis is that they haven't hit commercial radio yet, which isn't a bad thing but with their pop tunes that seem bound for the charts, they have never made it. They haven't really charted in the U.K. either, which I don't quite understand because basically everything charts there! Action and Drama, their current single, looks like it could have the best way of making into the Top 50 as pay-tv and JJJ are giving it fair airplay. We'll have to wait and see.

Other good tracks off the cd include 'I'm a slut' and 'theme from Tokyo', which has a very strong string arrangement to it. (I'm a sucker for a good string sound and this song has it) John Disco and Manda Rin both share the vocals throughout all the tracks and it makes for a pleasant sounding album.

As you can see, I'm a huge fan of the cd so make sure you go and buy it. My biggest regret is that I missed them live here. Oh well, there is always next time!