Search - Kid Creole & Coconuts :: Off the Coast of Me

Endearing, but still....

DXR | San Francisco Bay Area | 08/24/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a great fan of The Kid (and his Babes) I'm happy that this obscure, freshman LP was re-released...it's sweet and infectious in places, but it also has the hollow ring of a demo LP - which it was. Only the milestone "Maladie D'Amour" sounds fully developed, with its Savanah Band-esque lushness. I long for an extended version of this song, but not the "mutant disco version" included here as a bonus track...Compared to their subsequent LPs, this one is musically pretty
weak. As a collection it is disjointed and never really delivers a punch. "Darrio" is particularly annoying, with the whinny, first-generation Babes lacking any of the savoir faire of the next crop of girlz. Mister Softee sounds like it was recorded in a garage...not so bad if you pretend you're actually in there with 'em! Along with the classic "Maladie D'Amour", "Yolanda" is a real standout here - a slow-down, lowdown groove with terrific thematic feeling derived from the lyrics and vocals (boy yearns for girl; girl teases boy and refuses him) and the song's breezy West Indian tempo."Off The Coast Of Me" has a charm all its own, with a faraway, muted sound that's like a mild dose of Martin Denny. Here we get our first real exposure to The Babes, in perfect, prototypical form: "...I'm takin' a trip - off the coast of me...""Lili Marlene" is a whacky pop tune with its German lyrics and campy "Bavarian Karaoke" sound..."Bogota Affair" holds up well, and is a song that would have been a real knockout had it been born on one of the Kid's later, more musically mature recordings. Its dramatic shift from uptempo to down in the second half is sheer brilliance! The same can be said of the infectious, giddy "Calypso Pan American", another Savanah-esque number, showing what The Kid could do with a low budget production. If only he had more resources at his disposal,
and perhaps some direction from a more experienced studio crew...But, hey, that's what makes this LP worth the wait, and worth your while...this is truly fresh, original urban hipster stuff a la 1980!BUY IT."

Enhanced caribbean cruise

Pieter | Johannesburg | 04/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This flamboyant album blending disco, Caribbean and Latin American rhythms is full of fun, puns and tongue-in-chic humour. It has now been substantially enhanced with the addition of several 12-inch remixes that were previously only available as rare vinyl singles.



There's a lovely interaction between the lead vocals of August Darnell and the Coconuts who are Brooksie Wells, Lourdes Cotto, Adriana Kaegi and Fonda Rae and the instrumental mix includes piano, guitar, vibes, percussion, bass and drums.



Maladie d'Amour is charming and soulful, while the title track has Kid Creole singing through what sounds like a vocoder with the Coconuts' vocal coming through much stronger. Darrio is a gentle lilting disco number with the Coconuts imploring Darrio to get them into Studio 54, whilst Lilli Marlene is the old classic sung in the original German and given the disco treatment, quite a charming little number.



My favorite is Bogota Affair, a lovely song sung alternately in English and Spanish, about an elusive girlfriend that was seen in Bogota when she was supposed to be in Havana. Halfway through, the rhythm changes from brassy disco into a fast, lilting Latin style.



Although the album as a whole is uneven, the aforementioned tracks and others like Calypso Pan-American make this a very enjoyable album. If you like clever, intelligent lyrics over disco with a dash of Caribbean and Latin beats, you'll love Off The Coast Of Me.

"

Go Coconuts!

William Font | NY USA | 07/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was Kid Creole's first Album ,the band created and led by August Darnell ,who had formerly created Dr. Buzzrd's Original Savannah Band. this and his second album where the best followed by another sereies of not so prominent albums. They still perform here and there. Totally their own sound. I've seen them perform several times and they where as good as the albums. Very few of these around today."