I remember feeling deeply uncomfortable in the late eighties when I first heard Black Box’s ‘Ride on Time’. There I was, covered in black and an attitude, wearing Docs and a heavy disdain for anything vaguely resembling commercial radio friendly music when I heard this song. I couldn’t help but fall in love with this sampled electronic dance floor filler and it was a secret I long held to myself. Until now, I guess. Perhaps bands like New Order, Kraftwerk and the madchester scene had jemmied open the door to the realisation that danceable electronic music was really ok and misery not the only avenue available.
Of course at the foundation of the song are some very strong melodic bones – the pounding piano riff and the exhilarating vocals. Australian funk/soul superstars The Bamboos have now taken this skeleton and draped over it an earthy, analogue soul funk stomper. It’s as exuberant as the original, but with real instruments and no tricky sampling (and the attendant legal issues that beset the original).
And that is due to the very real and very expressive vocals from Kylie Auldist that capture the unbridled dynamism of the vocal melody.
The band has replicated the insistent compelling movement of the track and in a sense reinvented it in a positive and fresh way with the natural instrumentation and structure. Real instruments, recorded live with real passion and a whole lot of fun:
This release is accompanied by news the band will releasing their tenth album ‘Hard Up’ on 7 May 2021, out through Pacific Theatre/BMG, as well as playing live at the iconic Corner Hotel in Melbourne on Saturday, 10 April 2021 – an event that will be livestreamed around the world. All downloads/streams for the single and album, and tickets for the venue and live streaming are available here.
The Bamboos are an institution and a national treasure: formed in 2001 by band leader Lance Ferguson, they have gained international acclaim and a reputation for a dynamic live perfomance.
