Customer Reviews

Flash & The Pan

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Memory is an imperfect machine: we recall impressions much better than facts. After 20 years (1979), I remember Flash and the Pan's debut as a compilation of light danceable tunes with perceptive and engaging lyrics. Two decades later, I haven't changed my opinion: Vanda and Young bait the listener with sunny pop music, then trap him with captivating lyrics.

The majority of music here is ideal for disco nights - cheerful and danceable (Hey St. Peter, Man In The Middle, Lady Killer, Hole In The Middle). The method which Flash uses to deliver the lyrics is also engaging. Vanda and Young sing-speak into an antiquated radio microphone. The effect is archaic and unearthly. Contrasting the hip danceable music, the lyrics are a far cry from "Let's get down and boogie." The character standing at the gates of Heaven (Hey, St. Peter) pleads with St. Peter that he has already spent his time in hell (New York City). `The African Shuffle' appears to be a blatant racist insult of Black (Donna Summer) disco music. More precisely, the song condemns the entire "turn-off your brain and just dance" doctrine. Again in `Lady Killer,' Flash belittles the male Caucasian elitist patrons of clubs such as Studio 54. Captain Black (see James `Blood' Ulmer - Tales Of Captain Black) accidentally destroys `California' with a misdirected ballistic missile. Filled with secrecy are the haunting `Walking In The Rain' (exploring sexual ambiguity) and `Down Among The Dead Men' (an irreverent tale of the Titanic).

In the final cut (First And Last), Vanda and Young's world of selfishness and materialism is reborn with compassion and enlightenment. Flash and the Pan is unprecedented: a biting social commentary fabricated from the very music which it finds deploring.

I'll never forget the first time I heard Lady Killer. I was working at Radio Shack, we always had the radio on, and my attention was drawn to the song. My first response was "now THAT"S different!". I've been hooked since. I'm fortunate enough to own all of the Flash and the Pan CD's. I'm glad that a couple of them are available in the US again. Now if Vanda and Young would only record another! BTW, if you can find a copy of Burning Up the Night, BUY IT!

I don't have this CD, I have the original album (yes, on vinyl!), and it's one of those records I bought without having ever heard it before, or even heard of the band. It's a system I have of band name, album name, and cover art - the whole concept of who they are. Who woulnd't be attracted by colorful frisbees flying around the heads of dark-glassed beach chair sitters of all ages facing in one direction? When I got it home, I knew I had found one of my lasting favorites. When I'm ninety (as if), I will still be tapping my cane and bopping my head to these tunes, and being whisked away to the exotic locales of my mind with songs like Walking In the Rain, which Grace jones did justice to but could not top. Voice synthesization and emotional reality glow as this disk spins.

When I was 17 i listened to the album amillion Times and still do to this day, Thanks Amazon for finally letting me get this on Disc ! I agree that every song is a Gem, why this band never made a lasting impression among the New Wavers of the day is beyond Me. Now if I could only find their 3rd and last album on CD "Early Morning Wake up Call" Another great one !

Vanda and Young (related to the AC/DC Youngs) have produced a masterpiece here. It's tongue-in-cheek, but musically infectious. The vocals are an acquired taste, sounding like they wee recorded through a $3 microphone.

Maybe you had to grow up in the late 70's, but this is a must get for the musically adventurous. If you don't "get it" at first listen, keep trying. Every song is great. Maybe it isn't even for you. I used to have this on vinyl, and never thought I'd find it in an electronic format. I hope you like it, or were searching for it like I was.

Favorite cuts: "Hey, St Peter, Walking in the Rain, Ladykiller"

That's what it reminds me of, Lou Reed singing to the soundtrack from Escape from New York. (If you don't know this, John Carpenter generally writes his own soundtracks.) Enjoyable and demented. And these guys were tied into AC/DC, and as popular as the Beatles in their Easybeats incarnation? Australia is a very strange place.

But, seriously, this is a cool and unique album. Nice to see it back in print in the US. My only quibble is the garage band production. Some of these songs would make GREAT covers. I'd love to hear, say, the Red Hot Chili Peppers cover "California."

I bought this on vinyl in the early 80's. I still have it, but the record and turntable are in a storage unit about 1000 miles from me now. The tape I made wore out years ago and I have been looking for this on CD for at least 8 years.

The people at Tower records would not try to order it for me several years back, because it was out of print and an import. Needless to say I have not been a customer since then. Amazon and the internet are fantastic.

Walking in the Rain is the best cut on the CD, but it is followed closely by Hey, St Peter, Down Among the Dead Men, African Shuffle, California and the others.

THERE IS NOT A BAD TRACK ON THE CD, absolutely great. We listened to it many nights at Minsky's in Campustown.

THIS IS A CLASSIC LP,THAT FINALLY WAS PUT ON A DISC.
THAT BRINGS OUT RARE SONGS THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT HEARD IN YEARS

First rate service. cd arrived almost immediately in perfect condition.