19. ‘Banderas’ and ‘Cactus Rain’ (Marc Almond – ‘Communards’)

 

25 YEARS OF RECORD COLLECTING: MUSICAL MEMORIES 1982 - 2007

 

I would expect that everybody in this section knows legends such as Marc Almond, ‘Soft Cell’, Sinead O’Connor, ‘Bronski Beat’ and ‘the Communards’, but is there anybody else who remembers ‘Banderas’ or ‘Cactus Rain’.

 

I do not know if there are a lot of big fans of Marc Almond or Jimmy Somerville on the site, or whether people just like them for the popular cover versions that they have both released. However, if there are people here who either are obsessed by these two acts or have a great knowledge of early 1990s pop then no doubt you will have heard of ‘Banderas’ and ‘Cactus Rain’ as both were ‘off-shoots’ of each performer’s backing bands.

 

‘Banderas’ were a duo made up of ex-‘Communard’ associate Caroline Herbert along with singer Caroline Buckley. As with Sinead O’Connor, Caroline Buckley was a shaven headed singer with a striking look. In fact her striking look was very similar to the Irish singer’s 1990 non-hair phase, but because of the ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ video, ‘the pope controversy’ and the fact that she managed to hit the charts a few years before Caroline, it is Sinead that everybody remembers. This is a shame because ‘Banderas’ released a number of great singles in the early 1990s, as well as a brilliant album called ‘Ripe’ on the ‘London Records’ label, before disappearing from view as quickly as they came.

 

Fans of Manchester music gods ‘The Smiths’, might also remember that Johnny Marr played guitar on their big single and also contributed a number of other guest guitar parts across the album. My pick of the album is the third single ‘May This Be Your Last Sorrow’ which is very haunting.

 

Whereas ‘Banderas’, were an offshoot of Jimmy Somerville and Richard Cole’s ‘Communards’ backing band, ‘Cactus Rain’ were a early 1990s dance band featuring Annie Hogan from Marc Almond’s ‘Willing Sinners’ and ‘Mambas’ backing bands.

 

‘Cactus Rain’ are best described as a ‘chill out electronica’ act, though this was before these terms became in vogue, with the act’s sound being more pop like ‘Olive’ rather than more ambient like ‘The Orb’. Signed to the dance off-shoot of ‘Virgin Records’ A.V.L. operation ‘Ten’, they released a brilliant record called ‘Till The Morning Comes’, which even though it was not a hit, people might know from Channel 4’s ‘Dance Daze’ show at the Brixton Academy.

 

Have to be honest that Banderas were annoying and awful. Never heard Cactus Rain.

the communards dont leave me this way is funny with the voices reverse so you have the lady with the deep voice and the squeeky dude :lol: :lol:

I loved this song (a former Personal Chart #1 a long time ago):

 

Banderas - This Is Your Life

 

Produced by & music written by the legend that is Johnny Marr.

 

To think this could have been a Smiths song, but Morrissey did not want to move towards Music of Black origin.....

Just listened to this after about 15 years and I think this was more a signpost of some the tosh Marr came out with post-Smiths rather than Morrissey not wanting to do mobo.

Did you like Kirsty MacColl’s ‘Walking Down Madison’ as well as that record was very similar in style to ‘This Is Your Life’.