The Bolshoi signed to I.R.S. last summer, and have since released an EP (Giants) and now their debut album Friends or Fiends.
Based in London, the band consists of Trevor Tanner (lead vocals,
guitar), Nick Chown (bass), Jan Kalicki (drums) and Paul Clark
(keyboards).
Both in music and image, The Bolshoi does not subscribe to any one
trend or style. In the past year they have built up a very strong live
following and continue to tour the U.S. and U.K., where they recently
packed two nights at The Marquee. Their live shows are acclaimed for
their riveting impact. Lead singer Trevor is a charasmatic frontman who
is at least manipulating audiences large and small. As noted by Melody Maker, October 1986: "Before this man had a following, he
must have incited riots." Or Record Mirror the same month: "Trevor Tanner, the pivot around which the Bolshoi revolve, demands that his audience
care, too." Music Week described the audience as "immediately caught up in their powerful performance . . . the singer.guitarist
dramatically controlled the show."
The Bolshoi are, however, not simply just an entertaining live act.
They've also shown that their powerful and effective fusion of a rock
'n' roll dance beat and guitar, plus the benefit of catchy songs with
memorable choruses, comes across equally well on vinyl. Their first
single, "Sob Story"/"Ports of Amsterdam" (the B-side usually being the
set opener), came out in Spring '85 on Situation Two and gained several
radio one daytime airplays. "Happy Boy" was taken from their first
mini-LP Giants, released in September
last year, and both single and album were well received by the music press and radio. The Beat, November '85, said of Giants:
"Strong on brooding melodies, driven along by forceful rhythms and
crashing splinters of trebly guitar, all showing enough fire to crash
through the dark undergrowth of the post-punk jungle . . . admirable
stuff." Praise indeed, and as Melody Maker underlined, "The
Bolshoi have vision and lyrical flair -- a refreshing alternative to
some of the rancid pap that currently clogs up the charts" (October
'85). "Happy Boy" was variously described as "an accessible
introduction to their subtle charms" (RM),
"impressive and charismatic" (City Limits), "fabber than before . . . entirely confident"
(Zigzag). Their third single "A Way," out at the end of last year, also captured this feeling. Produced by
Mich Glossop, it received much airplay as an import, as well as some good press reviews. Sounds: "An understated
mini-epic which easily overruns the chronically abbreviated runway of charts '80s style."
The Bolshoi now unveil their second album Friends or Fiends. Friends comprises ten tracks produced by Mick Glossop, including
"A Way" and the newest British single "Books On The Bonfire" and many live favorites.
Trevor Tanner's aim for worldwide domination by the end of the year seems to be running to plan. As Sounds quoted
six months ago, "Mr. T is a star -- It's just that not a lot of people are aware of
the fact . . . as yet."
I.R.S. 9/86
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