It's no secret that lots of new bands have been borrowing musical styles from the synth sounds of the 80's, and this has led to many bands from that era enjoying revivals or reforming. Heaven 17, The Human League, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, the list goes on and on. But do we really need 80's electro duo BLANCMANGE back?
Listening to this album the answer is a definite no. I'm not familiar with the stuff this group released in the 80's, hence I can listen to their first album in over 25 years without unfairly judging it against their previous work, but from the very start this album is terrible. Weak verses, appalling lyrics, dated production and frankly rubbish songs, none of them even approaching anything memorable.
'Radio Therapy' is a weak attempt at sounding like Underworld, while elsewhere we get hints of Erasure, 90's-era Pet Shop Boys and a sound that recalls an aging northern bloke singing with the fucking Scissor Sisters. Terrible. Listening to this album felt like a complete waste of time, and indeed nearly an hour of my life I will never get back. 2/10
Living On the Ceiling was their big 80's hit with superb sitar used.
ReplyDeleteWas used on a drinks advert last year.