BIS
Social Dancing (Grand Royal/Capitol)
This Scottish cartoon pop trio made a name for themselves by dropping ultra-catchy DIY singles whose hooks and beats were inflamed by punk’s insolence. While Social Dancing is enjoyable as a hyperactive whirl through Brit-pop forms of the Eighties and early Nineties, this homage to the material world lacks the rebel edge of the band’s earlier work. Still, who can resist these bright young things when they conjure up the ghost of Manchester past on “Action and Drama”? Despite Bis’ increasing reliance on techno inspiration, they use the song to rag on “faceless DJ’s” for not being interesting enough pop stars. “Give me action and drama, give me Eighties Madonna,” squeaks the effervescent Manda Rin. For such a proposition to pass as protest is ridiculous, but you sing along anyway. In the same vein, “Eurodisco” lampoons disposable music with, “I lost my 15 minutes on Eurodisco” even as the song revels unabashedly in the fevered beat of the club mix. A more refined highlight comes on “Detour,” Bis’ sexy, trip hop-flavored collaboration with Lois Maffeo. You have to give them credit for evolving, but let’s hope Bis’ wayback machine isn’t stuck permanently in 1985. 
This article appears in September 10 • 1999.
