Description
Listening to Blancmange obsessively. Probably the most under-rated electronic act of all time. Moby
London Records release a vinyl box set of Blancmanges first three albums Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984) and Believe You Me (1985). Each gatefold 2LP release includes the original album (remastered), plus B-sides, extended versions, remixes, previously unreleased tracks and demos. Digital download card included.
Happy Families feels like a fully-formed electronic pop classic. Highlights include Living On The Ceiling (a striking #7 hit in 82 thanks to its mix of electronics with tabla and sitar), the melancholia of Waves, Feel Mes call-and-response electro-funk, the intense I Cant Explain and Gods Kitchen, which is an early example of Neil Arthurs gift with images and wordplay.
Blancmanges second album, Mange Tout, reached # 8 in the UK Charts in 1984 and spawned more hits notably Blind Vision (#10), Dont Tell Me (#8) and their fantastic cover of ABBAs The Day Before You Came (much loved by ABBA, who let them use footage from their original video for the Blancmange promo). It signals another change for the bands music, now increasingly built around deep, propulsive dance grooves.
The third and final Blancmange album of the 1980s, Believe You Me, was released in 1985 and features bitter-sweet pop songs such as Lose Your Love, Dont You Love It All and Whats Your Problem.
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