Fatal Fascination

Today's post is literally Brilliant. Yes, really.  

 

Brilliant were an '80s group that were originally formed after Marcus Myers had auditioned for lead singer with Killing Joke when frontman Jaz Coleman escaped to Iceland. Instead, bassist Youth aka Martin Glover ended up leaving Killing Joke and starting up Brilliant with Myers. The rest of the first line-up of Brilliant is in retrospect pretty impressive: Jimmy Cauty (The Orb, The Timelords, The KLF), Ben Watkins (The Flowerpot Men, Sunsonic, Juno Reactor) and Guy Pratt (Icehouse, Madonna, Bryan Ferry, Pink Floyd and currently performing with Nick Mason's Saucerful Of Secrets). 

Apparently, Brilliant hosted more than 30 members between 1982 and 1986, including Kris Needs (Secret Knowledge, Delta Lady), Stephane Holweck (Total Eclipse, Juno Reactor), Jake Le Mesurier (Zodiac Mindwarp & The Love Reaction), Jean-Marie Carroll (The Members) and 'Big' Paul Ferguson (Killing Joke).

 

I first heard Brilliant in their final, more pop-oriented phase, where they had settled into the trio of Youth, Jimmy Cauty and former backing singer, now lead, June Montana. Sadly, despite some great singles, interesting promo videos and numerous TV appearances and a good debut album, this didn't translate into commercial success and Brilliant called it a day in 1986. 

 

This latter period is also notable for the production by Stock, Aitken & Waterman, assisted by Phil Harding. Given their subsequent global domination with their Sausage Hit Factory for pop giants Sonia, Sinitta, The Reynolds Girls and some others I forget, this was a surprising flop but infinitely preferable to much of the pap pop that followed.

 

Amongst my vinyl collection is a lovely double pack 12" single of Love Is War, containing a bonus remix 12" of their cover of James Brown's 1966 classic It's A Man's Man's Man's World. My copy of the main 12" is also a limited edition, including this rather nice large poster:
 

Today's selection is a brief sojourn through Brilliant's pop period, mainly because I don't own that many Brilliant songs and have ripped even fewer. Apologies for any variations in sound quality; no apologies for including two versions of Love Is War in a mere 6-track, 30-minute sampler.

 

1) Somebody (New Extended Mix By Freddy Bastone) (1986)

2) Love Is War (Instrumental) (Remix By Stock, Aitken & Waterman & Phil Harding) (1986)

3) Ruby Fruit Jungle (Single Version) (1985)

4) The Burning Necklace (1986)

5) Love Is War (Alternative 12" Mix By Stock, Aitken & Waterman & Phil Harding)

  (1986)

6) It's A Man's Man's Man's World (The Trans Global Mix By Stock, Aitken & Waterman & Phil Harding) (Cover of James Brown) (1986) 

 

Fatal Fascination (31:47)

 

I couldn't resist including a couple of videos, available on YouTube. The first is Brilliant's promo for Love Is War and a shining example of Youth and Jimmy's guitar choreography.

 

The second is an appearance on Dutch TV show, Pop Sjop, which demonstrates that Youth and Jimmy's synchronised axe moves were not limited to the promos. However, the real star of this clip is the presenter introducing the clip. None more 80s, indeed.