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Conference marvin::uk_music

Title:	The UK Music Conference
Notice:	Welcome (back) to UK_MUSIC on node MARVIN.
Moderator:	RDGENG::CROOK

Created:	Mon Mar 28 1988
Last Modified:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1381
Total number of notes:	39269

596.0. "Blancmange" by WOTVAX::MOOREP () Thu Feb 08 1990 18:00

Anybody remember Blancmange, that zany duo who had several hits such as
"Living On The Ceiling" and "Blind Vision" a few years ago. Unfortunately
they split up a couple of years ago. Their music was synth-pop orientated 
with a strong Indian influence. 

Stephen Luscombe went on to form West India Company. Whilst still a member 
of Blancmange, he released a single as W.I.Co.("Ave Maria") on which he worked
with Vince Clarke (of Erasure) and Asha Bohsle (famous female Indian singer).
As far as I am aware, West India Co. have since released an LP although I have 
never seen it up here in the Manchester area. It must have flopped.

Also remember seeing an article in Record Mirror shortly after Blancmange's 
split which announced Stephen Luscombe working with Kate out of Haysi Fantazee
(don't think i've spelt that right !). This new group was supposed to have been 
called Deep Space but I don't believe anything was ever released.

Don't know what ever happened to the other Blancmange member, Neil Arthur.

Incidentally, Blancmange's version of "The Day Before You Came" did better in
the charts than the Abba original !

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
596.1	I've just been shopping	SHAPES::FIDDLERM		`Thu Feb 08 1990 18:14`	9
	Synchronicity or what! I played their first lp the other night, and it still sounds fresh. I think an essential buy if found in a bargain bin. I remember seeing them at Reading Uni, just before the first lp came out. They really did seem to be a fore-runner of the Erasure type approach. Are the other lps as good as the first? Mikef
596.2	Mange Tout !	WOTVAX::MOOREP	Break or be Broken	`Thu Feb 08 1990 18:59`	18
	First album, "Happy Families" was highly acclaimed, and got much deserved praise in the reviews. Their second album "Mange Tout" (which was a title chosen as a polite way of saying "get stuffed" to any of their critics) contains the more recogniseable hits, is definitely worth a listen but I think the terrible accapella "See The Train" spoils the whole album. The third and last album ( I can't think of the title but will dig it out tonight) is brilliant but seemed to do nothing in the charts, and likewise for the singles spawned from it. It's very poppy but has less of their usual Indian flair. It's as equally quirky as their other albums. On the whole very listenable. Blancmange 12"s have always been very good, always having an extended mix of the single or otherwise unavailable tracks on the B sides.
596.3	Ahh memories ...	GREBO::GURU	Only losers take the bus	`Fri Feb 09 1990 09:17`	8
	I went to a Blamange concert as a first date with my now wife, it was her idea but it was a very enjoyable evening (knowing grin appears on face!). It was at the Caley Paley in Edinburgh now a sh*tty disco called the Ampitheatre. It was a great place for a gig, no chairs and loads of room to dance. Anyway back to Blamange, I only had the "living on the Ceiling" album which was proabably their most successful, but now that I don't have a turntable I can't seem to find a copy on CD ... is it out on CD?
596.4	Why are you down there, I say!	CURRNT::SAXBY	Digital? Yeah I worked there ONCE!	`Fri Feb 09 1990 10:24`	10
	Blancmange. Brilliant. I reckon that Happy Families is the better album of the first two, but I don't have the third (as I remember I didn't like the later stuff as much). If you can buy one of their albums cheap, get it! Mark
596.5	Now this is weird !	WOTVAX::MOOREP	Break or be Broken	`Fri Feb 09 1990 15:22`	9
	Just got this month's Q magazine and in the "Where are they now" section - guess who are featured ! The third album's title, by the way is "Believe You me". I turned up at the Apollo in Manchester for one of their concerts, only to find out that it had been cancelled at the last minute (This must have been the time of the split). A damn shame !
596.6	amazing song	STAR::VILETT	Letters to a friend	`Tue May 22 1990 19:27`	2
	IMHO, "Don't Tell Me", esp. the 12" remix, is one of the most incredible songs to come out of the entire synth-pop genre.