sandra vu

bis colored my teen years. with fluorescent markers and punky colour hair dye. they were punk rock but bright, poppy, and cute. anti-authority and pro-candy. anti-mean pretty people, pro-drew barrymore. I had a sweet tooth for sugary pop and kids yelling pro-kid epithets. 2 guitars, 1 keyboard, drum machine, while all 3 sang. i dyed my hair and wore bright colors (i was also playing drums in a punk band at the time). i even made my own bis patch. wow. it mostly gave everyone around me a toothache. once, me and my good friend Dave snuck into KUCI (in the late 90s) to watch them perform live. i wish i could find those photos again. i had a major crush on John Disco.

Now Manda Rin is back at it again! Pitchfork reports the release of her new solo album. It is more in line with “later bis,” the bis that had alienated earlier fans. I don’t blame them for moving on, I thought Eurodisco was a good track. They lost me after that, unfortunately.

In this new interview with Manda, she talks about the success of new electro bands like CSS and the Tings Tings, and how bis were out of step with what would have hit years later. (They weren’t completely at a lost, as they were the first unsigned band to play Top of the Pops!) Also, she mentions meeting Lovefoxxx of CSS, and how big of a fan she is–I knew it!

Here’s the video for the first single, followed by other fine bis memories. Indulge me as I take a trip to my past.

2008: Manda Rin, DNA (This is Fake DIY Records)

2001: bis, Return to Central (SpinART) (–did anyone buy this?)

1999: bis, Eurodisco, Social Dancing (Grand Royal Records)

1997: bis, Tell it to the Kids, New Transistor Heroes (Grand Royal Records)

1996: bis, Kandy Pop, The Secret Vampire Soundtrack (Chemikal Underground)

…and let’s not forget when the stars aligned and bis did the theme for Powerpuff Girls (end credits):