Music

Having taken even longer to produce than ‘Chinese Democracy’, hopes may not have been high for ‘Funplex’. Luckily, the band have obviously spent the 16 years since their last LP digging tunes and rediscovering their collective muse. The album generally stays true to the weird and wonderful take The  B-52’s had on the new wave era of the late ’70s. The lo-fi garage-rock riffs and propulsive drums  are still there, but most importantly the tracks are still packed with fun-loving humour. Although, unless you know more of The B’s than ‘Love Shack’, a lot of the songs come across as being… well, a serious joke.

The self-proclaimed ‘shameless dance club party’ band have had the obvious marketing touch-up. Opening track ‘Pump’, with Kate Pierson’s nonchalant, downright sexy vocals alongside a gritty synthline, is clear evidence of guitarist Keith Strickland’s recent journey into modern dance music. The choice of the mediocre title track as lead single boggles the mind. It pales in comparison to the beautiful ‘Deviant Ingredient’ that combines the enjoyably nonsensical skits of Fred’s Sprechgesang with an addictive chorus – courtesy of Cindy and Kate’s classic vocal interplay. The integration of new into old will delight avid fans but equally importantly, not scare off latecomers.