Search - Kevin Ayers :: Bananamour

Long overdue reissue of a beautifully strange pop album

M. Bromberg | Atlanta, GA United States | 05/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's another great, overlooked art-school-rock classic finally released on CD. It's full of Ayers' odd lyrics and twisted tunes, and features a host of former Soft Machine mates and Island Records chums getting together to make some loopy, off-kilter rock'n'roll. Ayers' dark vision might be mistaken for depression in songs like "Don't Let It Get You Down" and "Shouting In a Bucket Blues," but it's always redeemed by a sense of humor and wit ("When Your Parents Go To Sleep" and "Interview."). The bonus tracks include "Caribbean Moon," which had been available on the 1973 U.S. vinyl release. Fans of Soft Machine may be disappointed; this is rock, not jazz. Along with his marvelous 1974 album "Confessions of Doctor Dream," this is some of the Seventies' most chic and sophisticated pop, as well as its most underrated."

Banana Follies

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 03/01/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kevin Ayers and the band 747 toured the Bananamour album in 1973 as Banana Follies and I was fortunate to see them at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on May 26th. The sleeve notes to this release mention that the preceding night's QEH gig on the 25th was recorded for a possible live LP "but Ayers' performance proved lacklustre and the overall result proved too disappointing to release". Perhaps they recorded the wrong night as I remember no such shortcomings and it seemed as if Kevin Ayers was on the verge of major stardom.

Although both the band and the material lacked the eccentricity and inspiration of his former outfit, the Whole World, it seemed that these concessions had made him and the band into more of a commercial proposition.

This is also true of this album. The whole affair is very restrained in a rather deliberate and British fashion, and this works to good advantage on some of the numbers, such as the excellent Shouting In A Bucket Blues, which features Steve Hillage on guitar, though at times there are lyrical weaknesses, and whimsical tributes to Syd Barrett and Nico both fail to show real insight into their subjects. Overall, though, this is still a strong and idiosyncratic album. Archie Leggett is allowed a lead vocal on the soully mock-sinister When Your Parents Go To Sleep, with a horn section featuring Howie Casey, and Soft Machine buddy organist Mike Ratledge solos on Interview.

Stardom failed to follow and Kevin's next release was on the Island label.

Of the bonus tracks, the highlight is a reggae reworking of old favourite Clarence In Wonderland, recorded with the band Greyhound, under the title Connie On A Rubber Band."

Algunos retazos de grandeza

jaimeurrutia | MIAMI, FLORIDA United States | 05/19/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Kevin Ayers ya no es el mismo de los días del magistral Joy of a Toy, pero aún su talento le permite entregar buenos momentos en éste, su cuarto álbum solista. Más accesible que trabajos anteriores, Bananamour se pasea por diversos estilos: pop digerible en Shouting in a Bucket Blues, toques soul en When Your Parents Go to Sleep, la que incluye poco apropiados coros femeninos y elementos progresivos en la hipnótica Decandence.El "viejo" Ayers se hace presente en la experimental Interview, cargada de guitarras y con la presencia de Mike Ratledge en teclados. Hymn es un bello y delicado tema con buena ejecución de piano, en tanto la magia de los sesenta aparece en el homenaje a Syd Barrett, la cautivante y melodiosa Oh! Wot a Dream, que incluye ruidos de patos. Cuando se inclina hacia la psicodelia aparece lo mejor de Ayers, un músico peculiar y de culto, cuyos discos (o parte de ellos) pueden ser una experiencia invaluable."