What can you tell me about classical quartet Bond

�A.� First of all, it's 'bond' ' all lower case letters, probably to distance themselves from the Capital-letter owning super spy and film star of the same name, but apart from the name, no other similarity exists.

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Q.� OK then�' bond�' what is all the fuss about

A.� The main media attention concerning bond has been on two levels. The first is the increasing desire of one particular musical entrepreneur to dress up classical music in a sexy outfit in order to sell it to as large an audience as possible�- a notion that appears to have failed thus far.

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Q.� But using sex to sell classical music is not a new idea is it

A.� No�- bond have the groundbreaking style of violinist Vanessa-Mae to climb over if they want to see any lasting results from their efforts. Vanessa-Mae proved quite a sensation when she appeared playing a see-through Perspex violin with some vigour, wearing a not-quite-as-see-through cotton top, and standing in some moderately rough seas, sawing her way through a selection of pseudo-classical pieces. Although only a music snob (of which there are plenty!) would attempt to deny her musical dexterity, the accent on her sexuality has meant that Vanessa-Mae's impact can only diminish, given that her musical style is a rather lumpen mix of 'classics for everyone' which falls neatly between genuine classical music fans, unmoved by her visual presentation, and pop fans, who can find any number of midriff-crunching babes cluttering up the pop charts from end to end.

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Q.� So why have bond jumped on the bandwagon

A.� It appears that undeterred by the lack of a sustained high profile�for Vanessa-Mae, Mel Bush, veteran promoter, and brains behind the Vanessa-Mae phenomenon, has decided there is plenty of mileage left in the 'babes who play' concept, because he has bankrolled bond's�debut album, and is placing his considerable media clout behind their proposed success.

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Q.� How are they doing so far

A.� Not too well to be honest. The group's debut album Born made the number two position of the CIN Classical Charts, before being kicked off the Chart for failing to match the criteria required to be classed as a 'classical' album.

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Specifically, the fact that all tracks have drums or synthesiser backing, and the album consists mainly of tracks written by modern composers�- the exception being a 'modernisation' of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, means that the album does not meet the basic requirements to be included in the classical chart.

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Q.� So how did it get in there in the first place

A.� The advice is that CIN received their review copy late, and after a cursory listen, it was allowed to be considered for chart entry, but a more detailed hearing, and some discussion, saw it ousted from the Chart, never to return.

Q.� How good are bond as musicians

A.� They are very good indeed�- the two violins, viola and cello combination are all classically trained, two of them have music degrees, and all four have stated their mission as being a group who encourage young people who may want to take up classical music, but are put off by the stuffy image.

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Q.� And is that a fair point

A.� It may be�- the high-brow movers and shakers within the classical music fraternity refuse to be moved by the notion that anyone thinks they are being 'stuffy'�- they point out, with considerable justification, that bond's image, and musical output, is to all intents and purposes, pop music, and should be marketed and charted accordingly. No amount of foot stamping and cries of "Foul!" from bond are having any impact on the classical stance�- bond remain a group without a solid fan base, and in danger of slipping between two ideologies, and disappearing without trace.

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Q.� So that could be the end of sexual imagery in classical music

A.� No, just the hyped-up end of the spectrum. Quietly making acknowledged superb classical albums with no hint of using her model looks to further her career is Anne-Sophie Mutter, a former child prodigy, who has been taken to the classical heart, and shows no sign of losing her position to Vanessa-Mae, bond, or indeed anyone else. Elsewhere, a twelve-strong female group, the Mediaeval Baebes are doing their bit for Middle Ages choral music, and they've got tattoos as well!

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By:� Andy Hughes.