On 4th August, Edsel Records will release definitive 3CD deluxe editions of Blancmange’s first three albums – Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984) and Believe You Me (1985).
Each release includes the original album (remastered), plus B-sides, extended versions, remixes, previously unreleased tracks, demos, BBC Radio One sessions from the early ‘80s including John Peel, and three BBC In Concert performances: 129 tracks in total, which are compiled for a very limited edition signed 9 CD box set, The Blanc Tapes.
Their 80s heyday was notable, but the pop duo still remain hugely influential to others in the music world.
“Blancmange has been part of the soundtrack to my life ever since Happy Families was released,” American singer-songwriter John Grant says. “I cannot wait to exact revenge on my neighbours by cranking ‘Game Above My Head’ to 13 on the hi-fi between 3-4am. They just make me happy. Take THAT, Christopher Guest!”
Multi-talented musician Moby also has fine words to say, declaring Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, “probably the most under-rated electronic act of all time.’
Many will remember the intoxicating pop gems from Happy Families. Perhaps the most obvious is ‘Living On The Ceiling’, with its memorable tabla and sitar trademark sound, and a Number 7 hit in 1982. It still sounds anthemic and current today. Clever, infectious writing rarely becomes dated.
Even the electro-funk of ‘Feel Me’ was brilliantly updated a few years ago with Sister Bliss’s euphoric club rework. This modern twist sounded faithful to the original, ironically, seeing as it was a Faithless imprint.
Happy Families also features long-term guitarist David Rhodes (famous for his work with Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker and Kate Bush).
‘David Rhodes who we’d first met while supporting the band Japan on tour in 1981 joined us, to add better guitar than I could imagine or play,’ says Neil Arthur. ‘He nicked Japan’s beers and gave them to us and became a friend for life.’
Blancmange’s second album, Mange Tout reached Number 8 in the UK charts in 1984 and spawned more hits – notably ‘Blind Vision’ (No.10), ‘Don’t Tell Me’ (No.8) and their terrific cover of ABBA’s ‘The Day Before You Came’ (much loved by ABBA who let them use footage from their original video for the Blancmange promo).
The third and final Blancmange album of the 1980s, Believe You Me was released in 1985, at a time when the public’s enthusiasm for synthesizer bands was showing signs of waning.
Blancmange announced they were splitting up in June 1986. Arthur: ‘We were asked to play at the Royal Albert Hall as part of a Greenpeace charity concert. To help promote the event we’d trundled off to Hyde Park to stand in front of a huge model whale with John Hurt, as you do. Later at the show, I remember looking around during the concert and thinking to myself, “what the bloody hell am I doing here?” What started as an experimental duo, had become a full on (no)show band. Also, it felt like Stephen and I were growing apart due to us working together for so long! Time to stop this for 26 years or so and protect our friendship.’
After working on their own projects and film music, Neil and Stephen returned in 2011 to great acclaim with their fourth studio release, Blanc Burn.
Blancmange’s new album, Unfurnished Rooms is due on 22 September, 2017, and there is also a tour.
Blancmange 2017 Tour Dates: October 5th Brighton Concorde 2; 6th London 229; 19th Southend Chinnery’s; 20th Southampton 1865; 25th Darwen Library; 26th Newcastle Boiler Shop; 27th Edinburgh La Belle Angele; 28th Glasgow Audio; November 2nd Bristol The Fleece; 4th Nottingham Rescue Rooms.
◁ Happy Families, Mange Tout and Believe You Me are released on 4 August via Edsel Records
