ARTICLE BY TED LIEBLER
Off Like A Prom Dress

   While driving through the desert at night on the way to a free Nancy Sinatra show at the casino down on the Ak-Chin Reservation, "Off Like a Prom Dress" went on the car stereo. While the tape rolled and the Firestones spun, the dichotomy of a harsh landscape with the spare beauty became immensely apparent. After a rush through the parking lot and some expected out-of-place metal guitar wankery, the band finally kicked in with a serviceable version of "You Only Live Twice." However, they failed to capture the glimmer and shimmer of the original opulent Bond theme and I thought of the more evocative version found as an exclusive on the Lost Patrol web site. Despite the noble efforts of Clem Burke (Blondie) on drums, Sinatra's band sunk into an underwhelming "Blues Hammer-ish" song written by the bass player and my mind drifted back to the dreamy and elegant silver disc from the Lost Patrol. On their latest escapade, the emphasis is really on the vocal numbers. For me, "Off Like a Prom Dress" really embarks near the end--starting with the gliding "Firefly" which recalls Denise James' Poptones record that unfortunately few heard. "...And Then Goodbye" etches the Shadows at their most florid and is just asking for some lucky film to scoop it up as its theme or soundtrack.Ê "Bon Voyage" floats along on a rockabilly undercurrent while the mandolin-driven folksy "I Am Here" brings things back to land. With the casino glowing in the rearview marrow, I clicked in the Lost Patrol tape as the car pushed forward into the Indian ink dark of the timeless desert and the pinpoint guitars led me home.
~ Ted Liebler

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