Drastic Plastic

Recording and content

Drastic Plastic was recorded in Chateau Saint Georges, Juan-les-Pins, in the south of France in the summer of 1977. Nelson recorded the album in Chateau Saint Georges, because he was inspired by the relation of the place with artist Jean Cocteau, who influenced him in the 1960s.

The material is different from the previous albums, showing changes in the musical direction of the band. Their style, although it maintained some of the progressive and glam standards, was more synthpop and new wave oriented.

The song "Islands of the Dead" is a song dedicated to Nelson's father, Walter, who died in 1976.

Release

Drastic Plastic was released in February 1978 by record label Harvest.

The band split up shortly after the releasing of the album. By the time of the disbanding, Nelson was writing material intended to be part of the Be-Bop Deluxe repertoire, but was destined to his next band, Red Noise, formed alongside keyboardist Andy Clark and Nelson's brother Ian. Red Noise released a more electronic album than Drastic Plastic, Sound-on-Sound, in 1979. That band and album were considered as post-Be-Bop Deluxe. Shortly afterwards, Nelson decided to continue his career as soloist, releasing more synthpop albums.

Nelson only maintained Andy Clark for his Red Noise project. After Be-Bop Deluxe split up, bassist Charlie Tumahai played with other bands in Britain seven more years, returning to his native New Zealand in 1985, where he joined reggae band Herbs, continuing with his career until his death, in 1995. Simon Fox worked with Trevor Rabin, formed Blazer Blazer and joined The Pretty Things. After Red Noise, Andy Clark contributed to selected tracks on David Bowie's 1980 album Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and the first two albums by The dBs.

Track listing

All songs written by Bill Nelson.

1. "Electrical Language" – 4:50
2. "New Precision" – 4:30
3. "New Mysteries" – 4:44
4. "Surreal Estate" – 5:00
5. "Love in Flames" – 4:09
6. "Panic in the World" – 5:04
7. "Dangerous Stranger" – 3:05
8. "Superenigmatix (Lethal Appliances for the Home with Everything)" – 2:10
9. "Visions of Endless Hopes" – 2:23
10. "Possession" – 2:34
11. "Islands of the Dead" – 3:45

The U.S. release (SW-11750) dropped "Visions of Endless Hopes" and inserted "Japan" – 2:34

CD reissue bonus tracks

1. "Blimps" – 2:46
2. "Lovers Are Mortal" – 4:54
3. "Lights" – 2:43

Personnel