Reviewed by George Russell

I only ever saw the Reps play once, then they folded. From that seminal band came the ubiquitous Dan Donovan, Double Check (Andy and Jay Clarke) and Keep In Step (John and Sue Ritter). 'Bad Boy' is an exciting collection of some of Keep In Step's most requested songs. The musical style is hard to define: some numbers are rave/dance, the second track, "Chains", is almost vintage Human League with a bonus bit of rap. Sue Ritter's voice has a New Wave edge, but the overall sound is contemporary-street-credible-techno-pop. The lyrics are powerful, soaked with reality: teenage rebellion, single parenthood, running away from home - songs that will influence many of the teenagers that hear the band in secondary schools all over the country. Not many boring, over 40 Val Doonican addicts will appreciate this album, but so what? If you like real life aggressive techno-pop (and if you know what it is), get hold of this album and support the schools ministry of this excellent band at the same time.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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