Duran Duran

About

When Duran Duran emerged from Birmingham, England in the early 1980, they were linked with the short-lived New Romantic movement—a nightclub-based trend founded on outrageous fashion choices and music that modernized ’70s glam and art rock. The quintet didn’t necessarily shy away from the association: They gleefully wore frilly shirts and swashbuckling pirate gear, and referenced “some new romantic looking for the TV sound” in the lyrics of their 1981 debut single, “Planet Earth.” In reality, however, Duran Duran was focused on substance over look, aspiring to create music that combined the sound of punk agitators Sex Pistols and disco icons Chic. This was a lofty goal, but the band’s 1981 self-titled debut album does confound expectations in the form of sleek bassline, glittery guitar, and atmospheric synth work. Working with producer-engineer Colin Thurston—whose CV included albums by David Bowie, Magazine, and The Human League—Duran Duran emphasized their individual strength. Guitarist Andy Taylor’s bold, ripping guitar riffs propelled “Planet Earth” and “Careless Memorie,” while Nick Rhodes’ keyboard-work offered multiple emotions: playful on “Sound of Thunder,” eerie on the proggy “Night Boat.” The rhythm section of bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor (no relation to each other or Andy) favored liquid grooves that added a danceable edge, especially on the glammy post-disco gem “Girls on Film.” And the poetry throughout was provided by vocalist Simon Le Bon, who dipped into his trusty writing notebook for mysteriou, moody lyrics that embraced the future while being somewhat wary of the past. .

via Apple Music

The Clerk says

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