Bandcamp
"Knows his 'niche electronica weird shit'" ~ Louder Than War
Tuesday 30 June 2020
Watch! - EJK & GVM - Blue Moon Frequency # 2b [Summer Mix]
Bandcamp
Sunday 28 June 2020
Watch! - Denise Sherwood - Music Shall Live ft Lee "Scratch" Perry
Saturday 27 June 2020
Saturday 20 June 2020
Wednesday 17 June 2020
Watch! - Into The Pale Abyss - The Chosen (feat. Ambivalenz)
Sunday 14 June 2020
Friday 12 June 2020
Review - Blancmange - Mindset
Blancmange – Mindset
(Blanc Check Records)
LP / CD / DL
Out Now
Legendary 80s synth
act return with brand new album.
To say that Blancmange
is returning is a slight misnomer as Neil Arthur never really seems to be
away. His current output is
frighteningly rich not only as figurehead to the revitalised act but also as
part of Near Future and Fader as well as touring and remixing for Kincaid (aka
his son, Joe). Mindset is the twelfth
album proper and the ninth since Blancmange mark 2 first appeared in 2011 with
Blanc Burn.
Arthur carries on
the as torch-bearer, once more working with Benge (John Fox And The
Maths/Wrangler) with whom he has now collaborated with on three Blancmange
albums and, the partnership is as solid and cohesive as ever. Both artists with a love of vintage
electronics mixed with brand new technology have developed the Blancmange sound
to once more be almost as distinctive as it was almost forty years ago.
Album opener and
title track, Mindset is uplifting as Arthur’s vocals fall somewhere between
melody and spoken word with a backing that is filled with bass and unforgettable
riffs. Approaching his 62nd
Birthday, he shows no signs of writers block, indeed quite the opposite as he
continues to push the envelope into new and unique sounds.
Warm Reception is
led by a clinical but powerful drumbeat that accompanies a driving bassline and
sparse electro hooks, it may also be the first (and last) song to ever reference
The Carpenters and Bowie in the same line.
It is dramatic and conveys a sense of detachment. This Is Bliss has rings of 80s Blancmange, a
retro sounding track sees Arthurs vocals akin to 1984’s That’s Love That It Is
and, provides one of the albums most commercial and accessible tracks.
There are distinct
echoes of Human League’s Being Boiled in the intro to Antisocial Media, a jab
at social media trolling and, Insomniacs Tonight cleverly contains sleepy
vocals and light tones against a marching back beat with a call for truth and
transparency.
Vocally, Arthur
seems to offer forward a sort of spoken word melody that has become a trademark
of his style, often throwing in bizarre and obtuse words that act as a sound
rather than a meaning. Lyrics are almost
musical in themselves and often conjure up an imagery that marries up to the
song wonderfully.
As the album closes
with When, a slowed down and emotional reference to disagreement, begins to
question that arguments are often not about what the original gripe was. It’s a calming and slightly disturbing end to
another fine album by Blancmange, one which sees Arthur age like a fine wine
and collaboration with the multi-talented Benge is once more confirmed as the
next logical step in the transformation of the band. Released slightly later than originally
planned due to the events of the last few months, Mindset is well worth the
wait.
Listen! - Humbros - Bois Debout
Wednesday 10 June 2020
Sunday 7 June 2020
Saturday 6 June 2020
Thursday 4 June 2020
Listen! - Scissorgun - Terminal Velocity (Syncing)
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