Black Box strikes it up again

Mention the name Black Box, and many will strike a blank look. But screech out your best attempt at “Ride on Time” – complete with Diana Ross like hand movements – and everyone is transported to that golden time of 1989, when dance music was in its revolutionary infancy.

Kids, inspired by the rise of turntables as an instrument and DJs as stars, had begun to produce a new type of dance music – House.

“It was a revolution,” one half of the re-formed Black Box, Daniele Davoli, recalled of the period when the band was reaching their pinnacle.

“The technology allowed everyone to make music at home. Before that was never conceivable because of the costs.

“Taking us as an example though, we had a piece of equipment each, we stuck it all together, borrowed some stuff from friends and started making records.

Other people around the world were doing the same thing, so it created a new movement – that’s why it was house music, it was made at home. It gave a lot of people the opportunity to express their ideas, and the underground became mainstream.”

Tapping into the zeitgeist of crisp beats put behind diva-tastic vocal performances, Black Box produced the biggest selling single of 1989, Ride On Time. A feat, which was later followed up with UK and Australian chart topper Fantasy.

Twenty years on and the group is back in Australia to “bring back the fun” according to vocalist Chervoni, who took an opportunity to praise the gay scene for their early connection with the dance-music scene.

“The gay scene was always the most supportive,” she said. “They were always ready to receive new ideas. They’ve been the ones who have been embracing us, and still carry us.”

info: Black Box play the SMC Function & Convention Centre on March 13, and the Revesby Worker’s Club on March 14. For more information visit www.blackboxhouse.eu.