In Be Bop Deluxe, Nelson proved himself one of the most technically accomplished British guitarists of the 70s. Even Julian Cope, ex-Teardrop Explodes leader now turned eccentric musicologist, recently commented, “Sure, Nelson’s muse was mightily ‘effected’ by David Bowie, but this angular harlequin was more the Ziggy Stardust character than Bowie himself. For a start, boy could he play guitar!…he must only be described herein as a Gonzoid Virtuoso.” In addition Nelson is distinctive songwriter with a fondness for futurism and artist Jean Cocteau, as well as a celebrated producer for Harold Budd and of the million selling debut A Flock Of Seagulls album. Commemorating the 30th anniversary of his major label debut, Postcards From The Future draws from all of the six (five studio, one live in concert) albums Be Bop Deluxe recorded for EMI’s Harvest subsidiary between 1974 and 1978. In addition, during February and March of 2005 all six albums are being re-released in the US featuring expanded booklets and bonus tracks.

Bill Nelson’s started out playing what he calls “psychedelic blues music” in various ad hoc bands during the 60s. But it wasn’t until the ‘70s that his career began in earnest with the solo LP Northern Dream. Financed by the owner of a Wakefield record shop, it was originally limited to 250 copies. One of them found its way to John Peel who began playing it regularly on Radio One, prompting executives from Harvest to seek Bill out. Their intention was for him to revisit Northern Dream with better recording equipment but, having just formed the first line-up of Be Bop Deluxe, Bill had other ideas. A single, “Teenage Archangel” b/w “Jets at Dawn” was recorded before the Harvest deal was signed and sold at concerts (both tracks are included on Postcards From The Future). Bebop Deluxe’s debut album, Axe Victim, appeared in summer 1974, showcasing Bill’s fluid style, jazz-tinged chops and thin but confident tenor vocals. There was a change of line-up for Futurama, on which Bill’s vision was given full rein by the kitchen sink approach of Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker. Heavy with layered guitars and melodic ideas pursued on a whim and quickly abandoned, it featured two of the best singles never to hit the charts: “Maid In Heaven” and “Sister Seagull.” Be Bop toured with Cockney Rebel and as headliners, finally notching a hit single with the ambitious “Ships In The Night” from the Sunburst Finish LP, which led to their only appearance on Top Of The Pops and a US record deal.

The next long player, Modern Music, dealt with Bill’s disillusionment with that experience while reflecting on his science fiction fixation. The title track, a dreamy pop concoction that takes in every established guitar style and a few new ones besides, is particularly impressive. A break from their punishing schedule was plugged by the concert album Live! In the Air Age before Drastic Plastic completed the band’s natural life span. Recorded in the south of France in the Rolling Stone’s mobile studio, Bill’s guitar plays second fiddle, as it were, to synthesizers as he tried to assimilate electronics into his work. Throughout Be Bop Deluxe’s short lifespan the band has been a keen influence, inspiring many a New Romantic band in the ‘80s including Duran Duran and Gary Numan. In fact, the story goes that upon seeing Be Bop Deluxe in concert, David Sylvian and friends decided to form the group Japan. Having far too long being name-checked yet seldom heard, Be Bop Deluxe are now ripe for rediscovery.