Bis: C or D?

Social Dancing is tune-tastic. I bought it months ago but only just listened to it properly about 3 or 4 weeks ago and now it's on heavy minidisc duty. Now I have to go and search for the rest...

And are those sleeve notes meant to be genuine? ignore them either way. the same trick works with moby too.

(cue for someone wanting to destroy all bis-monsters)

The rest? Meh. Not terrible, but not very interesting either. Kind of a watered down take on Huggy Bear early in their career, then a scad of psuedo-80s pastiches.

Perhaps I should listen to more Huggy Bear...

Pretty much my thought on the band right there. And their Gary Numan cover again made me want to kill.

By the way, check out bis's fantastic "Music for a Stranger World," on Lookout! Records, available in better record shops everywhere.

as for me, i enjoy it all. some more than others, but i've got almost everything they've put out. i'll agree that the Fact2002 EP put out by Optimo Espacio is mostly fantastic, except i really hate the cover of "Hurt." i LOVE the cover of "Love Will Tear Us Apart," however, and think it's probably the best cover i've heard someone do of That Song Everyone Has To Cover. it took awhile to come around to that way of thinking, as i was kind of lukewarm on it at first, but i really like it a lot.

hrrm. stuff to search out? in a covers vein, try their cover of "Stray Cat Blues." if you're looking for a proper, tangible release of it, i believe it's only on the Techno Disco Lovers EP put out on V2 in Japan. there's also their cover of Pete Shelley's "Telephone Operator," which is a Return to Central-era B-side from an Australian single ("The End Starts Today," maybe? have it at home and can't remember. ^^;;)

also, if you're liking the turn they took later on, try their Fukd ID EP contribution---i think it's #5 in the ChemUnderground series. "Brainclouds," "The European," "Mamelodi Sundown," and "Situation." all highly recommended. i think a track or two from this is available on the Plastique Nouveau and Plastique 33 releases, but if you're enjoying Return to Central, you completely owe it to yourself to track the whole thing down.

more search, in an earlier-Bis (which i'll define as pre-Social Dancing, for my purposes) sort of vein:

"Kill Yr Boyfriend" (the original version, not the one that shows up on I <3 Bis, as Manda's vocal just sounds bored. interesting historical artifact, maybe, but the original is way, WAY better.)
"Girl Star" (NOT the version on Intendo, but the one that's on one of the "Everybody Thinks That They're Going To Get Theirs" singles. it's angrier, and has more focus, and therefore sounds better than the one put on Intendo. to my ears, at least.)
"Public School Boy." very, very shouty, and just long enough. any longer and it wouldn't work as well.
"School Disco." i think this kind of hinted at the greatness they were capable of, early on. the harmonies between the brothers Clark have always been a huge strong point to the band, and they're showcased marvelously here. plus, the hook! you can't help wanting to dance, and it seems so effortless!
"Keroleen" you have a choice here of the original 7" version or the extra hidden-track quasi-Krautrockesque version at the end of The New Transistor Heroes. i'd go with the 7" version if choosing only one. the bonus version is amusing, but i'd listen to the original-speed version more.
"This Is Fake D.I.Y." really, most of the early singles are fun. i do still like "Kandy Pop," though i can see where it's easy to tire of. and of course, if you inherently object to Manda's voice, of course, then a lot of this is out. :)
"Starbright Boy" garners a lot of Blur comparisons, which i do see. well, till Manda's rap shows up. if you want an example of Sci-Fi Steven rapping, also try out "Cookie Cutter Kid." straight outta Giffnock indeed. ^^
"Ninja Hi-Skool" hyper, full of attitude, and fun. plus, it's hard not to enjoy a song that starts with the line "you wanna slow down? eat my insurrection!" if Atari Teenage Riot makes you hyper and giddy and gleeful and you aren't opposed to a bit of tweeness, you'll enjoy this song.
"Clockwork Punk" is just good, really.
"Popstar Kill" is mocking, childish fun. and really, who hasn't thought this?

search, in post-Social Dancing-era Bis:

i'd say just about all of Social Dancing and Return to Central, actually. as well as 3/4 of the Fact2002 EP and all of the Fukd ID EP as mentioned above. also most of the Music for a Stranger World EP---particularly as released in Japan, since you get "Why Are We Waiting?" in addition to the tracks released everywhere else. you also get "DJ," which is kinda grating, but one duff song on the whole thing isn't so bad. of particular note is the absolutely gorgeous segue from "Robotic (Just Last Week)" into "A Portrait of Land from Space" on Return to Central. unbelievably gorgeous. this exemplifies why it's been so fascinating to me to listen to the band evolve, because if you've only heard what they started out as, you'd never have imagined they'd do this as well. i really like that they grew and changed over time---it never seemed a contrived thing, just a natural part of being the band that they were.
as for B-sides in addition to above, check out "Like Robots," "Cinema Says," "Kiss and Tell," "Not Even Close," and "Robotic (Just Last Week) - the Syndrum mix."

oh, and "Oh My" is amusing as well. from the At Home With The Groovebox comp that Grand Royal put out.

(i'll agree with Ned that the Gary Numan cover really wasn't so great. but that album has the nice long version of Saint Etienne's version of "Stormtrooper in Drag," so all is not lost! ^^)

Also, Manda's new band, The Kitchen, has some great Bis-ish tracks like "Notch" and "Blind Tease".

i myself mean to check out The Kitchen stuff, but haven't yet. have you heard any of the Clark bros. Dirty Hospital stuff?

Word on the street is their new material under a new name isn't too far away now.

I think there are a couple more bis c/d threads about, but are hidden behind the 4 letters or less search rule.

I would say Dirty Hospital (aka Stephen & John) has more potential at the moment.

From Bisnation.com:

LATEST INFO
7/16/2004 2:18:38 AM
So it may seem like things have been quiet recently, but the Bis guys have been busy.

They are still writing music for the new BBC cartoon which as yet is still untitled. They have completed 13 songs and the theme tune so just 13 more to go for the 2nd series. we'll let you know the release date when we get it.

Also, lots of fans have been asking what's happening to their "new band" now that bis is deceased. as you know there were songs recorded at the end of Bis that were due to get used. manda, john and steven are now back in the studio and working on the new project very hard. lots of songs are in progress, the main problem being a name for the band - so all suggestions welcome!

I think one of the main reasons why Bis broke up was to get away from the negative associations that come with the band name "Bis". I'm sure "Return to Central" and (especially) "Fact2002" would have found a much larger audience if people didn't have the image of them as "that Kandy Pop band".

You OWE it to yourselves to give them another listen if you didn't at the time.

http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/11388.html

The three recently-estranged members of Bis have bowed to the inevitable and are back together in the form of a new band, Data Panik.

Described by Ms Rin as “a harder, stronger Bis with a drummer”, the band’s first release will be a 7” self-pressed single, which will hopefully be out around the end of March and which will feature two songs: 'Cubis(I Love You)' and 'Sense Not Sense'. They aim to be playing live in a couple of months time, and are currently seeking a label interested in putting out their debut album.

It was more than a theory, that was the reason.

More info from bisnation.com:

THE NEW BAND
2/22/2005 4:09:18 AM
SO THE NEW BAND WITH MANDA, JOHN AND STEVEN IS GOING TO BE CALLED "DATA PANIK" (HAILING FROM STEVEN BEING A FAN OF PERE UBU). THE DATA PART IS TO BE PRONOUNCED "DAH TAH" AND NICE IF YOU PUT ON A GERMAN ACCENT!

OVER 10 SONGS HAVE NOW BEEN RECORDED IN SEVEN-A STUDIOS. WE ARE RELEASING A 7" LIMITED TO 500 COPIES OURSELVES. THIS IS A NICE SPECIAL ITEM FOR THE FANS TO HEAR THE NEW BAND WE THOUGHT. THE SONGS WILL BE "SENSE NOT SENSE" AND "CUBIS". THIS SHOULD BE PRESSED AND AVAILABLE HOPEFULLY WITHIN THE NEXT 6 - 8 WEEKS VIA THE WEBSITE AND SELECTED RECORD SHOPS.

ON THE RECORDINGS AND WHEN PLAYING LIVE THE BAND WILL HAVE A DRUMMER. CURRENTLY WE HAVEN'T PRACTICED THE LIVE SIDE OF THE BAND SO IT'S GONNA BE AN INTERESTING COUPLE OF MONTHS! IT'S ALL VERY EXCITING THOUGH!

WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. ANY QUESTIONS, JUST EMAIL BISHQ@HOTMAIL.COM

Either way I am very excited.

Then again, I am a New Order fan that was and still is completely underwhelmed by the last three releases, so. (Okay, so technically only two releases, but I've listened to the leak, so that counts.)

I got Social Dancing years ago and it is great, but last week I picked up New Transistor Heroes and Return To Central for £2 each, which excited me greatly. I haven't listened to them yet due to mulitple other buys but perhaps this suggests almost all interest in them has died.

The tracks sounds great - the fresh production of Return To Central/Fact 2002 with the urgent guitar energy of old school Bis.

Trivia Fans: 'Bis' originally stood for 'Black Iron Skyline' - as in the 'The The' song - until they decided it sounded naff and just decided to use 'Bis'.

Sounds like damning with faint praise!

http://photos8.flickr.com/8563954_c85a4863af.jpg

damning with faint praise!

manda's no great singer at the best of times but i think on that song she made excellent use of what she can do

Is that some Bis news to announce on 24th Nov? Hmm I think so!

listened to these folks' debut album on spotify fully expecting to hate it and guess what i really rather liked it o_O

i still can't decide if bearsuit is the new bis but then they aren't as completely annoying so perhaps not.

― keith m (keithmcl), Saturday, 17 July 2004 22:05 (5 years ago) Bookmark

lol bearsuit were around 5 years ago

i mean i like bearsuit having seen and enjoyed them live twice by accident but that 'punch from a foxy boxer' song is probably the most annoying single piece of music ever

bearsuit have been too annoying for me to like since their 2nd album.. still love the 1st album + singles comp tho

is there any need for bis to reform? i suppose the last bunch of stuff they put out was not half bad..

frontlass from bearsuit = lovely

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs204.snc1/7133_638627488600_36910239_40921312_2422936_n.jpg

frontdude from bearsuit = lol this picture

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs204.snc1/7133_638627493590_36910239_40921313_3900933_n.jpg

Probably another reunion gig.

Wish they'd managed to finish the album when they were (most of) Data Panik, they had some decent material but not enough funds.

Just discovered a new Bis album is coming out on record store day! Who knew. Looks to be made up of the tunes from when they were called themselves Data Panik.

http://bisnation.com/post/75780074072/released-at-last

Huh, never commented on it upthread but I saw a Data Panik show quite by chance in Glasgow in 2005 during my big trip around Europe that summer -- great stuff!

Total news to me that there were people who hated "New Transistor Heroes!" I get not caring about it but don't get hating it!

This is good

Here's the VIDEO for our new single Sound of a Heartbreak that's released digitally today from all the usual places 😉 https://t.co/ns2VmzONSr @LNFGlasgow

— bis (@thebandbis) January 18, 2019

wb bis

I've pretty much always been the boards resident bis Stan, but the new album "Systems Music For Home Defence" is really solid, it kind of distills all their eras into one very cohesive LP - tip!