Bang!

From 1983-86 we knew Karl Wallinger as a member of The Waterboys before he left, gasping for musical air and bursting with the brilliant debut 'Private Revolution' (1987), featuring the Top Forty hit "Ship of Fools". Written, produced and played almost entirely by Wallinger, 'Private Revolution' has been hailed as a glorious mixture of musical styles from the Fab Four through folk to funk, with Karl's abiding love of melody face-up at all times.

After World Party added a reputation as a red-hot live act, the love continued on 'Goodbye Jumbo' (1990), which was voted "Album of the Year" by Q Magazine, featuring the hits "Put The Message in the Box" and "Way Down Now".

The third album, Bang! (1993) (#40) was a bigger success in chart placing terms, with the track "Is It Like Today?" (#62) also proving to be a huge international success. The fourth album, 'Egyptology' (1996) won an Ivor Novello award, for the single "She's The One" which was subsequently recorded by Robbie Williams. The album 'Dumbing Up' was released in 2000 and was arguably Wallinger's best work since 'Goodbye Jumbo'.

2009 marked the return of World Party in the UK with re-mastered catalog featuring enhanced packaging. The catalog had been unavailable since 1998 in the UK, with previous sales well over one million.

On his previous releases, Wallinger has displayed a social conscience, but never has it taken prominence like it does on 'Bang!', World Party's third album. 'Bang!' does contain some glorious music that equals his masterpiece 'Goodbye Jumbo'. Wallinger's preaching never obliterates the considerable pleasures of the music. Wallinger has often been accused of recycling the Beatles, but the truth is that he can combine Beatles, Beach Boys, Sly Stone, Dylan, and Prince into a musical style that is distinctive and unique yet familiar. 'Bang!', for all of its shortcomings, is as strong an album as any Wallinger has released.