The Weekender, Saturday, June 10, 1989

Exciting, way-out music

Time to dust off that old cliche - now for something completely different

The Sweets of Sin, a three-piece specialising in exciting, way-out dance music. It's what happens when the Middle-Eastern inclinations of Steve Z's clarinet, soprano and tenor saxophones and French horn, flute, keyboards and vocals meets the distinctive Cabaret-influenced vocals and mannerisms of German-born singer Frank Mankyboddle and percussionist Daniel O'Shea Clements. The West German eccentric Frank Mankyboddle, who reminds me of the early Split Enz Image, teamed with Englishman Steve Z who studied french horn and composition at the conservatorium of Adelaide University, and has since played in a wide variety of ensembles, from proessional orchestras to Jazz rock and exper- imental groups. The only Australian-born member, Daniel O'Shea Clements, who has studied mime and played trumpet with a succession of rock bands, Joined in March 1986. The Sweets of Sin. Larrikin Jarra Hill JRH 2011 is the first album from the trio. It's exciting, It's innovative - your ears won't believe what they hear. I was intrigued by the name of the band, and bewitched, bothered and bewildered as I listened. First to their "dance of the seven veils", simply called The Dance, then the satiri- cal in The Ditch sung in German, then the itensely dramatic. instant love or hate track Ghosts of the Battlecry.

The Sweets of Sin formed in Adelaide, July 1985 but relocated to Sydney early 1986 where they have built up a devoted following. The second helping begins with the rather chaotic Can Hatice, which was originally a hit in Turkey In the late 1970s. The more I listen the more I can get from The Sweets of Sin.