Banderas was a British duo comprised of vocalist Caroline Buckley and violinist/musician Sally Herbert. They formed after working with Jimmy Sommerville's group the Communards. Their one and only album was produced by American Stephen Hague, who had had huge success producing British synth bands like OMD, Pet Shop Boys, New Order and Erasure, among many others. The sound was very much in the vein of those - danceable, sometimes funky synth-pop, with some trip-hoppy slower numbers. The real difference is Caroline's vocals, which are both ethereal and soulful, and the lyrics, which are very positive and uplifting. The first single "This Is Your Life" (which samples the fabulous Grace Jones' "Crack Attack") was a top 20 pop hit in the UK and top 40 dance hit in the US. The follow-up singles "She Sells" and "May This Be Your Last Sorrow" did not fare nearly as well, and though the album made the British top 40, the duo was largely ignored. It's likely that their image, that of two older, shaven headed and very androgynous women, was not what the audience associated with or wanted from female dance artists at the time, the majority of which were very young and sexualized. The two continued to work with Sommerville, and Sally has appeared and several albums since, both playing violin and doing string arrangements. Caroline has kept a lower profile (though a girl with the same name appeared on the first season of Pop Idol in a classically bad performance). According to one site, Sally is working with Caroline on writing some new songs, so who knows, we may hear more from them still. For now, download this lovely album, especially if you like previous postees Waterlillies.Video for This Is Your Life (UK Version)
Video for This Is Your Life (US Version)
Video for She Sells
Download Ripe
| 1 | This Is Your Life | |
| 2 | The Comfort Of Faith | |
| 3 | May This Be Your Last Sorrow | |
| 4 | First Hand | |
| 5 | Why Aren't You In Love With Me? | |
| 6 | She Sells | |
| 7 | Too Good | |
| 8 | Don't Let That Man | |
| 9 | It's Written All Over My Face | |
| 10 | Never Too Late |
I've had this CD for a long time, and it's a really excellent choice to post here. "This Is Your Life" is a wonderful song, both life-affirming and melancholy, like life itself.
ReplyDeleteHi all i saw banderas supporting jimmy somervile in england a long time ago..They were fantastic to see live and when the album followed it was fantastic...
DeleteThanks a lot for this :) havent heard this for nearly 30 ears ...
DeleteExcellent post!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!!!
GR
i love this cd.
ReplyDeleteI remember that I picked this up at the Half Price Books & Records on Northwest Highway in Dallas back in the Fall of 1991. I loved "This Is Your Life" and "She Sells," but I played "Why Aren't You in Love with Me?" incessantly. It was also released as a promo single here in the U.S.
ReplyDeletei was looking so long for this album ... and finally found it here
ReplyDelete1000 x thanks :)
'IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER MY FACE' = one of the most beautiful songs ever written. Period.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely true.
Deletethe girls were before there time.both excellent to listen to.should try again with a re release.
ReplyDeleteAgree, the girls were before their time and should definitely release an album today. I had this album when it was first released and played it non-stop. It "disappeared" during a move and I've often thought of replacing it. Now I have and what a joy!
ReplyDeleteWhare is Caroline now? so gorgeous! what a talent! fab voice and Scotts to boot.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the best albums in any decade. Ethereal and beautiful vocals, stunningly beautiful songs. Oh if they only recorded more....
ReplyDeletelONG LOST & FOUND AGAIN ON YOUR SITE, MANY THANKS, HAPPY DAYS!!
ReplyDeleteShe sells and Comfort of Faith are also excellent!
ReplyDeleteScandinavian Swede
One of the 90's most underated albums/talented female acts to come out of the uk at the time. Damn shame they weren't more widely accepted. Pleasure to listen to this album again....Happy Dayz :)
ReplyDeleteHi have been trying to locate bandaras Ripe for my wife hope you can help many thanks mark
ReplyDeleteDo you mean the physical CD? If you just want the songs, the link to download the album is above. ;)
DeleteThanks for this! I found this post after downloading a much poorer quality rip from another blog. Your rip is top-notch!
ReplyDeleteMassa demais! Vlws!!!!
ReplyDeleteone of my Favourite albums of all time. Great [Madonna esque] vocals, fantastic melodies & lyrics. Hav it on cassette from my student days. Just need to get the CD for the car then its Max Volume...in the car as well as the house. in fact I might just go for a drive to nowhere to listen to this album after discovering it on YouTube this weekend HAPPY DAYS!! Good job by neighbour's away as its full volume via Bluetooth at the moment. I'd be sooo happy to find them touring Jx
ReplyDeleteI don't know where to post it but would it be possible to get Yazz"s albums please ? Many thanks in advance.
ReplyDeleteDeze fiets іs zeer geschikt voor ⅾe dagelijkse ritjes.
ReplyDeleteSimply superb,they really did have it all,a mixture of talent and beauty,and Caroline's beautiful soulful voice,its a crime they didn't go on to greater success
ReplyDeleteI keep listening to the album ever since I bought it back then, it hasn't aged a bit.
ReplyDeleteWho can help me with the photos of the Banderas? Thanks
ReplyDeleteIts a shame they never had many more hits.Such beautiful and well meaning vocals.Long due a remix and a remaster.Please,please rerelease this album.Pure quality!!
ReplyDelete