10cc
Deceptive Bends

THE REVIEW

In a period, that of the '70s, when rock music, especially English rock, was offering serious authors and bands that wanted to give their audience spatial and fantastic music, the various Genesis and Yes, in 1970 in Manchester, the 10cc were formed, who would be authors of an ironic and chart-topping pop throughout the decade.

The initial lineup consisted of Kevin Godley (drums), Lol Creme (guitar), Eric Stewart (guitar and lead vocals), and a quirky and talented author of bubble-gum music, as well as a multi-instrumentalist, Graham Gouldman. In 1977, however, the group lost Creme and Godley, who initiated a successful collaboration that led to the production of experimental music records, and in the '80s they became video authors, the most famous being produced for Duran Duran; the two remaining members did not get discouraged and, after hiring a new drummer, produced what is considered their best work, "Deceptive Bends," which is indeed the culmination of their art. Without a precise style, 10cc built their songs by citing the most diverse groups, particularly the Beach Boys and the Beatles, and they engaged in kaleidoscopic collages that blended reggae with rock, jazz, prog, the purest pop, and much more. In the end, this enormous hodgepodge is brought to a surprising conclusion; indeed, although Stewart and Gouldman particularly love overdubs and spend a lot of time on very complex arrangements (especially of the vocals), the album holds up beautifully and demonstrates their very particular talent in crafting quirky but truly successful songs.

The work opens with "Good Morning Judge," a track about a small-time crook who frequently visits courtrooms; the music is immediate, a raw rock in the guitar part, with Gouldman's bass holding everything perfectly. The video of the song is curious, with Stewart and Gouldman engaged in impersonating the various characters of the imaginary trial. Another very ironic song, this time about the flu, is "You’ve Got A Cold," once again a catchy track played largely on the voices of Stewart and Gouldman, the first being clear and light, the second deep and heavy. Typically Beatlesque is "The Things We Do For Love," reminiscent of the early period of the Liverpool group; the band pays tribute to good friends Paul and Linda McCartney with "People In Love," a track that strongly recalls Wings; the finale is marked by the mini-suite "Feel The Benefit Part 1, 2 & 3," where the group engages in orchestration, Caribbean sounds, and a lot of prog atmosphere that ultimately fully satisfies the listener.

In the end, a very British and decidedly kitsch work that cheers and entertains. Note the cover, which is also in the full ironic tradition of 10cc. Their songs are indeed sometimes banal and a bit sappy, but their way of presenting them is truly unique. Many other artists have tried to copy their non-style style, Queen for instance, but Stewart and Gouldman are of an entirely different caliber.