Empire Strikes Back: Record Collector Magazine

Record Collector magazine from the U.K. reviewed the Singapore 60s Definitive Collection in its September 2009 edition. It is entitled, The Empire Strikes Back:

Singapore 60s lovingly compiles the ferment of music released in the years after Cliff & The Shadows played in the region in 1961. There were all manner of instrumental groups, male and female singers, and the cream of the crop is richly spread over these five CDs.

The first three discs has complete EPs by artists like, Naomi & The Boys, The Crescendos, The Thunderbirds and Shirley Nair & The Silver Strings. It is a great idea, and provides a defined flavour of their sound. Replete with stinging guitar, The Cyclones’ She’s Mine All Mine and The Dew are excellent, while The Crescendoes murder Long Tall Sally. Disc Four features solo singers, with Heather’s two tracks proving stellar stand-outs.

Musically, these 100 songs capture all manner of genres from rock’n’roll, Stones covers, pop ditties and even an early waft of psychedelia. Sung in English, this is the 60s pop experience in a parallel universe and, with excellent liner notes, sumptuous DVD style packaging and fantastic original artwork, it’s one you should explore.
Universal Music Singapore 531 950-9 (5-CD)
Image/Article is copyright: Ian Shirley from Record Collector Magazine.

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