Rocktrospectiva: The Beautifully Odd "Ripe" Turns 35

Released on 16 April 1991 "Ripe" was the only studio album by English female pop music duo Banderas. The album features the singles "This Is Your Life", which reached number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, plus the follow-up single "She Sells", which reached number 41. A third single, "May This Be Your Last Sorrow", failed to chart.

The album included an appearance from singer Jimmy Somerville, providing backing vocals on the track "Why Aren't You in Love With Me?"; Banderas band members Caroline Buckley and Sally Herbert had been backing musicians with Somerville's band The Communards. Johnny Marr from The Smiths and Bernard Sumner from New Order provide guitar on "This Is Your Life", with Sumner also doing backing vocals.

The pairing of Caroline Buckley and Sally Herbert met in 1987 when they were in the live band of The Communards. Buckley filled the big shoes of Sarah-Jane Morris who had moved on to pursue a solo career while Herbert was in the string section which also included Audrey Riley, Jocelyn Pook and Anne Stephenson. After The Communards disbanded and Jimmy Somerville loaned the pair a Yamaha DX7 and a sampler, Buckley and Herbert became Banderas, the Spanish word for “flag”. Adopting a striking shaven headed image, they began writing songs and gigging, eventually coming to the attention of producer Stephen Hague's manager. 

Buckley and Herbert contributed on The Communards final album "Red", so after having the chance to work with Stephen Hague,  the American was an obvious and natural choice to helm Banderas debut album which was released under the London Records label. 

Things looked promising for Banderas and this was outlined by the cast of players on the album; special guests included Bernard Sumner, Johnny Marr and Jimmy Somerville while there were noted sessioners on board such as Luís Jardim, Guy Pratt and Stevie Lange as well former band mates Audrey Riley and Jocelyn Pook.

The album’s outstanding and key track was the magnificent "This Is Your Life", one of the last songs written and recorded for "Ripe". Using a sample from Grace Jones’ "Crack Attack', it had a distinct Pet Shop Girls behavioural vibe to it. Meanwhile there was also the added bonus of Johnny Marr and Bernard Sumner on rhythm guitars plus a terrific middle eight section featured Sumner's vocals before an emotive synth solo.  Despite "This Is Your Life" reached No. 16 in the UK singles charts, there were no more hits for Banderas unfortunately

Other remarkable track were the banging drum mantra and a catchy riff, the more uptempo second single "She Sells" which was a shopping list song that just missed out on a Top 40. But despite lyrics attacking the advertising industry's use of sexist stereotypes, the message proved to be less appealing than the melancholic but uplifting "This Is Your Life". The third Banderas single "May This Be Your Last Sorrow" fared even worse, but despite being inspired by a scene from a film in Arabic where the mourners were reciting to a bereaved family, 

Alongside the singles, "Ripe" had other highlights such as "The Comfort Of Faith,"  a song questioning unconditional religious devotion that came with a typically classic Stephen Hague production while with an orchestral arrangement that undoubtedly seeded Herbert's future career as a film score composer, "Why Aren't You In Love With Me?" which was Banderas' take on Philly soul with Buckley's emotive resignation in harmony with a comparatively understated falsetto from Jimmy Sommerville.

Other fantastic track was "It's Written All Over My Face", a bare self-produced song which despite its countrified acoustic guitar recalled the pulsing electronic arrangement of Marianne Faithfull's version of "The Ballad Of Lucy Jordan". Also quite stripped down was  "Too Good" featuring a stark percussive groove augmented by fretless bass runs while the closer "Never Too Late" saw the duo offer their take on Patsy Cline, and finally "First Hand" or "Don't Let That Man" which maybe are not so impressive as the album's highlights, these are not bad either.  

A second album was in the works to be produced by Alan Moulder but London Records lost interest and Banderas quietly disbanded. "This Is Your Life" may be considered something of a one hit wonder but to have written such a timeless song that resonates with the public, even if it is for a limited moment in time, is a gift to any composer. 

Critics reviewed positive the album considered it as an addictive sophisti sound record and the singer were praised cause she sang with confidence and the tracks This Is Your Life and May This Be Your Last Sorrow as exciting and beautifully produced tracks that saved the album from monotony, so believe it or not, this was the evidence that Banderas delivered an album that was worthy of the supporting cast that helped embellish it.

 

Ripe Track List:  

 

1. This Is Your Life

2. Comfort Of Faith

3. May This Be Your Last Sorrow

4. First Hand

5. Why Arenpt You In Love With Me?

6. She Sells

7. Too Good

8. Don't Let That Man

9. It's Written All Over My Face

10. Never Too Late