Customer Reviews

Pigs & Battleships

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As you might expect from a band fronted by Hacienda DJ Mike Pickering, Quando Quango released some incredible dance singles that anticipated the House music explosion of the late eighties and early nineties. All of these songs (or superlative remixes thereof) are included as bonus tracks on this release.

Unfortunately, the bulk of the album itself amounts to far less than the sum of its parts. The influence of salsa, jazz, hip-hop, disco, dub, and pop is felt on nearly every track. But somehow it all runs together into a generic and wearisome bore. I think there were too many gifted and creative people involved in the recording of this album and their differing tastes and ambitions somehow canceled each other out. In addition to Mike Pickering, Johnny Marr, Vini Reilly, and Simon Topping all contribute to "Pigs + Battleships", but the chemistry just isn't there.

Quando Quango weren't bad at all. But the album clearly wasn't a format that suited what they did best. Is it any wonder they made only one?

The 12" version of Love Tempo, clocking in at 7:55, is finally on CD. Sound quality is excellent. I'd never heard any other songs by Quando Quango, but it really isn't anything special, and becomes boring quite quickly. A couple of songs have a "new wave 80s" feel, but most of the tracks are repetitive and uninteresting. Nothing on here is a lost 80s gem. Too bad Love Tempo didn't show up on an 80s compilation so I wouldn't have to own this whole disc for one song....

I first heard material from this album in 1985,and i loved the sound and their style, not the best vocals but who cares it is what it is! good dance music, and when blended with some good house and original detroit techno tracks it made for some great nights at home listeing to DJ mixes on the radio. if you were influenced or had exposure to this kind of music growing up,I highly recommend this album, because music like this is not made anymore due to the markets focus on money and not art.