Review: Bobbie Dazzle ‘Fandabidozi’
Everyone has their own way of dealing with tragedy. Some look inward, some look outwardly. Others opt for somber reflection while there are those who seek a grander tribute to those they lost. Siân Greenway opted for the latter approach after the tragic loss of her sister. Rather than succumb to depths of despair, the former Alunah vocalist decided to form Bobbie Dazzle as an outlet for celebration.
Fandabidozi is the debut record of this new project and is a ‘70s swamped hard glam rock tribute to the acts Greenway grew up with such as The Sweet and T. Rex. The result is a boisterous bundle of upbeat female-fronted rock that also recalls more mainstream acts such as Halestorm and underground groups like Ruby The Hatchet.
Lightning Fantasy starts off the record with a foot on the throttle, featuring high-ranging vocals from Greenway and some spirited Paul Kossof-esque guitar. It stands in fairly stark contrast to the darker and more psychedelic offerings of Alunah and makes for a nice contrast.
Van Halen comes to mind with the intro of the following track Merry-Go-Round, which I find to be much stronger than its predecessor on account of Greenway making use of her impressive pipes as an effective additional instrument. Some Jethro Tull-ish flute also makes its way into the mix. Revolution is also a nice bouncer with male backup singers and some bounding organ and cowbell to accompany, not to mention a bit of a nod to Adam Ant (‘Hey! Hey!’).
the album simply bristles with an undeniable energy and a quest for a good time…
Magic Of Music sounds a bit like The Pretenders if they decided to add a bit of prog rock into their mix, while Thin Lizzy appears to be the inspiration for Back To The City with its jovial dual guitar leads. It’s Electric has some proto-punk driving rhythm for a suitably high-octane feel that seems like an appropriate soundtrack for a particularly wild night out.
Greenway has certainly assembled a fine cast of musicians from the Birmingham and Black Country regions and the crisp production coupled with the flawless playing points to them evidently spending a good amount of studio time making this record. Antique Time Machine is probably my favorite song with a second showing of the Thin Lizzy-influenced guitar work and some nice synthesizer effects making for a very dainty earworm.
While the beginning of the record was a bit uneven, Fandabidozi really gets going as it progresses. Obviously, there is no reinventing the wheel and many listeners will find more than a few things familiar about the band, especially if they are avid listeners of ‘70s hard rock. But the album simply bristles with an undeniable energy and a quest for a good time. We can be sure that Greenway will continue to dazzle on this well-trodden heavy rock path she has set for herself.
Label: Rise Above Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Rob Walsh
