Review: “True Confessions” by Bananarama (CD, 1986)

Todays’ Pop Rescue from a fate uncertain is the 1986 third album True Confessions by British group Bananarama. Will this album remain True to form, or will you need Confession after? Read on…

This 11 track CD opens with the electric-styled synths and dramatic drum fills of titular track True Confessions. This continues as a harder beat and funky slap bass arrives. It’s a full 70 seconds until the ‘Nanas arrive on the microphones, and they’re in perfect harmony. However, they do sound a little secondary to this 80’s pop-rock. It’s a slightly muted started to the album.

Then it’s Ready Or Not, and this seems to be charged with a little more energy, and an air of catchiness. The ladies’ vocals are better used here, with Sara, Keren, and Siobhan allowing to shine in the vocal harmonies and the occasional high notes (sorry, I don’t know who delivers that).

That leads on to Trick Of The Night – the album’s fourth and final UK single. This track gives us a healthy dose of the Bananarama that you’re probably more familiar with, even though its a slow plodder. The ladies are perfectly in harmony with each others, and they do a nice split in the build up to the chorus. It crept up to #32 in the UK singles chart.

Following that is Dance With A Stranger, which ushers us in with a nice up-beat tempo and tinkling piano. That’s met with breathy vocals and what sounds like a double bass, resulting in some kind of jazzy late night lounge – complete with a saxophone solo. It’s a nice relaxing track, and it works perfectly.

In A Perfect World is next with stadium beats, soft ‘ooh la la laaa’ vocals, and guitar riffs for almost 2 minutes until the ladies start to sing the first verse. This is another slow pop-rock song, and whilst it’s quite nice and relaxing, it also wafts for a long time (it is the longest track here at 6m 7s), an edit would have helped here as it just ends up a little over-indulgent.

Huge hit, and cover version, Venus is next, and gave the trio a #8 UK hit, although they’ve recorded and re-released versions of it many times since, and it has become synonymous with the group’s name. This track belts along, with Stock, Aitken, Waterman and the busiest drummer in pop (😉) ‘A. Linn’ pulling the ladies another hit. It’s a total banger, and much more energetic than Shocking Blue’s original.

Then we’re on to lead single Do Not Disturb, and it’s a pretty catchy chorus here, complete with vocal samples and tons of drum machines and synths. At times, I get vocal echoes of Robert De Niro’s Waiting from their previous album. Despite the catchiness of it, the track reached #31 in the UK singles chart.

That leads on to A Cut Above The Rest which gives us some guitars and plodding (and slightly sinister) bass line. It’s a good solid mid-tempo track, and all three ladies nail the vocals, again with some nice warm harmonies.

Following that is Promised Land, which has some lovely sounding 80’s synths duelling with a funky bass. The track is a cheerful and bouncy pop track, with some nice little growling electric guitar riffs, fills, and synths.

More Than Physical follows that, and stood as the album’s third single. Once again it’s fairly clear that Stock, Aitken, Waterman have got their hands on this track, as whilst the vocals are pretty soft and breathy in anticipation, the track bounces along wonderfully. Despite this magical S/A/W touch, the track sadly stalled at #41 in the UK.

The album closes with Hooked On Love, and this gives us a really nice closing track, with plenty of moments where the ‘nanas show off their vocal range – from harder shouty vocals, to high bursts, and soft harmonies. Whilst it remains another mid-tempo track, it at least feels like it has something to say and somewhere to go.

Bananarama’s lead single ‘Do Not Disturb’ (1985).

Verdict

Over all, this album is not the Bananarama pop album that you’re expecting!

There’s no doubting here that the album is massively overshadowed by that huge hit cover version that is synonymous with the Bananarama brand, and frequently remixed and re-released by them too – it’s a cash cow… but this album doesn’t follow suit.

Highlights here are great songs, but aside from Venus and Do Not Disturb, A Trick Of The Night, More Than Physical and Dance With A Stranger are strong too but they’re slower songs. The lowest points are Ready Or Not and A Cut Above The Rest, but there’s not much in it.

The shift from pop belters to this slower heavier looser sound feels like a slight misstep, and I’m glad that they returned to their pop sound, and ultimately their biggest hits, with their next album (Wow!).