Current
line up: Tim Booth (vocals), Angelo Badalamenti (keyboards), Bernard
Butler (guitar), Mark Egan (bass), Ira Siegel (guitar), Graham
Hawthorne (drums)
With
the exception of Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe's superb
"Barcelona" album, there can be few, if any, collaborations
as unusual or as good as the one in 1996 that brought together
renowned composer Angelo Badalamenti with Tim Booth.
Tim Booth, the frontman of Manchester group, James,
needs no introduction. His music with James
helped create the Madchester
sound of the early 1990's and has since developed into an unorthodox,
intelligent rock often incorporating folk and pop.
On
the other hand, 54-year old Angelo Badalamenti, comes from a classical,
jazz and operatic background. The Brooklyn-born Italian-American
is famous for composing the eerie scores to the TV series "Twin
Peaks" and the movies "Blue Velvet" and "Wild At
Heart".
Surprisingly,
the resulting "Booth and The Bad Angel" album is extremely
enjoyable despite the huge differences between the musical styles
of the two. The superb hit single, "I Believe", highlights
this charting highly in the UK.
The
success of the project also relies on the work put in by ex-Suede
member, Bernard Butler, who mixed the album as well as playing
guitar on all but four of the brilliant eleven tracks (he also
plays piano on two). The project also spawned the hits, "Dance
Of The Bad Angels" and the song both agree is their favourite,
"Fall In Love With Me", highlighting Angelo's influence
whilst "Hit Parade" could have been lifted straight off
a James
album.
Whilst
Tim has returned to massive success with James,
(their "Greatest Hits" and "Millionaires" albums
charting highly), he is keen to work with Angelo again. Thankfully
Booth and The Bad Angel will return...