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Storybox
No Dancing Allowed

Section 44/HardBite Records/Woobie Bear Music

Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2008
By: Mike Ventarola

In today's day and age, it is hard to believe that gay people were often arrested for congregating in their own clubs less than 40 years ago. During that political climate, gay men and women remained an imaginary threat for the mainstream right wing and in spite of the pervasive "love power" that predominated the '60s, this same sentiment was still a long way off for the gay populace. Storybox thus crafts a fictional account of real world events from the 1969 Stonewall Riots with the title track "No Dancing Allowed." While this track is highly danceable and filled with infectious grooves honed from the top electro acts of the '80s, this anthemic track poignantly looks towards the pseudo-apocalyptic future of nightclub life throughout the New York scene of today, regardless of orientation. "Never Wonder" dishes up yet another '80s inspired track reminiscent of New Order with hopeful and emotively loving lyrics. "Ashes in the Air" opens with a dark electronic infusion, which then reverts to something akin to the dark pop sensibility of Depeche Mode. Lyrically, this is an homage to those who perished in the Holocaust without making the topic lighthearted in the least. "Fantasy" brings us on a more theatrical journey, similar to that of the later work of Marc Almond. This mid-tempo beat is delivered with a touch of archaic medieval emphasis combined with Broadway intensity and opulent electronic instrumentation. No Dancing Allowed is a body of work lyrically, photographically, and sonically that will invite contrasts and comparisons, to which a short review could never do full justice. This particular CD is definitely geared to those who love the timeless sounds from the '80s as well as the underground dance pop club styles of today, as both are beautifully combined within the parameters of the 12 tracks. This is a fresh and inviting debut from an artist who clearly puts a creative spin on every aspect of his release in order to make it a timeless classic.