Format: LP
Style: Italo disco, Synth pop
Label: Connect
https://www.discogs.com/Biba-The-Album/release/4259251
A1 Remember Me
A2 Do Your Thing
A3 Hangin' On
A4 Strange
A5 Break Of Dawn
B1 Hollywood Is Much Too far
B2 Wanting You
B3 Locomotion
B4 Won't You Come Back Again
B5 This Night Is Like Magic
This is a record that took me awhile to acquire and sad circumstances soon after has made it even more special to me. I bought this from artist and record dealer Krister Krycko Petersson, who soon after tragically passed away (RIP). I bought many records from him over the years and this sadly turned out to be the very last one.
I have been looking for this specific album for a couple of years, ever since I heard the song Wanting you, wich I stumbled on by accident on youtube. I has a lovely, cool synth-riff wich I absolutely adore. It also has this very genuine 80-ish sound that is irresisteble to me.
Biba herself is a bit of a mystery. I suspect that she is Swedish, but I have had a hard time finding anything about her on the internet. She has done some vocals for frensh producer Jean-Pierre Massiera who is credited as co writer on two tracks on the album under the name Areissam. The album is produced by a T. Cassidy who's real name probably is Jyrki Leo Jantunen from Finland. It also has a finnish songwriter in Pekka Hakala who uses the name Jay Havanna on the cover. I have no clue to why there is so many pseudonyms on this record, but somehow it adds to the album's mystique.
The sound of the album is like a mix of italo disco and Samantha Fox with a splash of Madonna. Cheesy synths, some distorted guitars and the laid back vocals by Biba herself. She doesn't really have a great voice, but it works for the songs and just adds to the albums charm.
Wanting you is the albums stand out song, but Do your thing and Hangin' on is also worth checking out. I will put the video for Do your thing at the bottom just because it just reaks of the 80's. But make sure you also check out Wanting you if you like italo and great synth-riffs.
I bought this one for about 16 €.
If anyone has more information 'bout the record or of Biba I would love to hear from you.