Blancmange - Semi Detached

by Tony Gaughan

published: 12 / 4 / 2015

Label: Cherry Red Records
Format: CD

intro

Enjoyable but experimental fifth album from electropop act Blancmange, the first to feature Neil Arthur without his co-founder Stephen Luscombe who has had to retire because of long-term illness

The 80's were kind to electropop duo Blancmange earning them seven Top 40 singles and two Top 40 albums in just three years on the back of electro pop acts like Depeche Mode ,Soft Cell and the Human League. Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe could do no wrong with singles such as 'Living on the Ceiling', 'Don't Tell Me' and 'Blind Vision' earning them instant fame and world-wide hits. 'Semi Detached' features only one half of the duo Neil Arthur, following keyboard player Stephen's departure due to long-term illness. It opens oddly enough with an eight-minute downbeat, current single 'The Fall' named after the Manchester band who were an early inspiration. Not one of the three minute pop classics that they were renowned for in their height (not that aren't a few amongst this first release following their previous comeback album 'Blanc Burn' in 2011). 'I Want More' is a cover of a 1976 hit by Can, and 'Paddington' the previous single, mimics this with its synth and drum box driving it along. The strongest tracks are 'Acid' and the super-catchy surefire future single 'Useless'. The album closes with a typically Blancmange sounding track 'Bloody Hell Fire'. An enjoyable but experimental offering.

Track Listing:-

1 The Fall
2 I Want More
3 Paddington
4 It Didn't Take Long
5 Mks Lover
6 Like I Do
7 Deep in the Mine
8 Acid
9 Useless
10 Bloody Hell Fire
11 Paddington

Band Links:-

https://www.facebook.com/BlancmangeMusic
http://www.blancmange.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/_blancmange_

Label Links:-

http://www.cherryred.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/CherryRedRecords
https://twitter.com/cherryredgroup
https://www.youtube.com/CherryRedRecords

Have a Listen:-

interviews

Interview (2020)

Dave Goodwin speaks to Neil Arthur from seminal electronic group Blancmange about their 80's-influenced new and twelfth album, 'Mindset'.

Interview (2016)

Interview (2012)

Interview (2011)

profiles

Profile (2017)

Tony Gaughan examines a detailed and in-depth nine CD retrospective from synth pop duo Blancmange, which compiles together their first three albums with remixes, session tracks, demos and live performances