Black Box Recorder
Passionoia -One Little Indian 2003
Tracks: 1. The School Song / 2. GSOH Q.E.D. / 3. British Racing Green / 4. Being Number One / 5. The New Diana / 6. These Are the Things / 7. Andrew Ridgley / 8. When Britain Refused to Sing / 9. Girls Guide for the Modern Diva / 10. I Ran All the Way Home
Comments:
This third album from Black Box Recorder was originally released in 2003, and there are many indications that it will be the last from the group, who have not released new material for more than ten years.
I became acquainted with the group when I ran across the predecessor "The Facts of Life" in a thrift store, and was very impressed by the album. There were fine melodies, great almost whispering vocals from Sarah Nixey and intelligent lyrics.
Thus, it was only natural to dive into the group's other releases. It has initially fallen on this, "Passionoia". Musically and stylistically, it is not far from its predecessor and the good songs are still to be found. Not completely on par with "The Facts of Life, though. The best songs here are hardly as good as the best on the predecessor and there are also a few tracks that do not quite keep the level.
However, there are still a good handful which may well get the predicate “favorites”. On "The School Song" there is somewhat a new approach from the group. It's almost a dance thing; with spoken vocals - charming and catchy.
"GSOH Q.E.D" is more classic BBR; I wish I knew what the letters stood for. "British Racing Green" is a fine song that sounds like it might have been taken from "The Facts of Life". "Being Number One" is quite simple, but also quite charming.
The album ends strongly with "Girls Guide for the Modern Diva" and "I Ran All the Way Home"; both great songs with fine thoughtful lyrics.
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