Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Blancmange-Irene & Mavis,e.p.,1980,UK


Brought together by a mutual love of electronic music, vocalist Neil Arthur (born in 1958) and keyboardist Stephen Luscombe (born in 1954) formed a band called L360, changing their name to Blancmange in early 1979. They released their first EP Irene & Mavis the following year, but it was a track on the Some Bizzare Album compilation that led them to signing a contract with London Records. Their first single Feel Me was a minor hit in 1982, and they broke through later that year with Living on the Ceiling (UK #7), a unusual mix of synth pop, Eastern rhythms and Talking Heads influences. After a first album, Happy Families, and a string of pop singles (Waves / Games Above My Head and Blind Vision both reaching the UK Top Ten), they managed to repeat their initial success with Don't Tell Me (UK #8), another Indian-flavoured synthetic pop song, and the second album Mange Tout in 1984. Sadly, as synthetic pop became less fashionable, the band's success declined with their third album Believe You Me spending only two weeks in the national charts and the single What's Your Problem? only reaching #40 in 1985. They would soon disband after one last single, I Can See It, in 1986. Luscombe later released an album of Indian influenced music, Music From New Demons, under the name The West India Company with Indian singing legend Asha Bhosle and Blancmange regular Pandit Dinesh. Arthur released his first solo album Suitcase in 1994 and also worked with dance group Fortran 5.
No ,No, No, Mutant Sounds did not turn commercial!Just hear this.Dark experimental minimal synth sounding,unlike everything else they ever recorded.Sometimes not quite sure if it's the same band!This e.p. is ultra rare ,i was searching it for ages and in late 90s i just managed to find an almost damaged copy that was worthless to rip it.Fortunately a few weeks go i found a very good rip ,so here it is!Download it ,you'd love it!
get it here

9 comments:

wassonii said...

I love Blancmange. Mangetout is actually a really dark pop album. Thank you!

PSI said...

THANKS! I have been looking for this for some time now. I too have a rather badly ripped copy and I can't wait to hear this.

Thanks again

Dr. Design said...

Hey what's up? Was wondering if I could make a request.... do you have anymore Zargtong? besides the 78 LP you have posted?...

any mabye any more the (hypotetical) prophets.? I really liked both of thier stuff.

thanks alot for posting the Tone-sec...

/Dr.D

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for this!!!

Healing Light Comfort Zone said...

You weren't lying. This is amazing. Like skipping towards death with synth in hand.

PSI said...

Ha, ha.....it's the same copy I already have. I can identify it by the noise at the start of some tracks. Thanks anyway.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic! Feel Me of course wasn't the first London single, God's Kitchen/I've Seen The Word was. STILL haven't decided which side I love the most!!!

Anonymous said...

I wonder how many of these are left ? I bought mine at the Marquee when they supported Nash the Slash. The band themselves sold this amongst the audience so I guess they're pretty few and far between. I liked the fact that tracks 1, 4 and 5 could be played at both 33 and 45 !

djbethell said...

Holiday Camp is sublime!
Thanks, x