Blancmange - 'blanc burn'
Unbeknown to myself, and probably many other Room Thirteen readers, electronic duo Stephen Luscombe and Neil Arthur began making waves in the early 1980's with the release of debut cult EP 'Irene & Mavis'. Their popularity went from strength to strength throughout the decade culminating with the likes of stonewall classic 'Living on the Ceiling', which more recently has been recycled and replayed on Flash FM from Vice City Stories, one of the most popular efforts in the Grand Theft Auto video game series. Another of the duo's early singles 'Feel Me' has also once again seen the light of day in the form of a 2010 remix by arena filling dance collective Faithless.
Now after a massive twenty three year hiatus the pair once described as 'one of the truly original English snth pop acts' are back in full effect. But sadly this time around 'Blanc Burn' isn't doing a whole lot for me and I very much doubt it'll do a whole lot many others? Sometimes you've just got to be cruel to be kind and in this case it's blindingly obvious from hearing 'Blanc Burn' in its totality, where technology has moved on sadly this pair haven't. It really seems they have picked up where they left off. Being fair, maybe a few years have passed since the tail end of their pivotal decade, but this album, sounds like a couple of Aphex Twin fans sitting in their shared bed-sit, indulging a little excessively in man-mountain strength lager, watching too much Britain's Got Talent and getting the idea of re-creating their idol's sound on an inferior Casio. It's just wrong and on so many levels.
Trying to look past the production issue's, which is a near on impossibility, knowing how nowadays sound can and has been manipulated whilst being pumped through the gnaaaarrrrliest speakers within dance circle's, the mixture between Luscombe's beats just don't sit well with vocalists Neil Arthur's broad Lancashire tones. It might sound strange, but maybe if they both went their own separate ways they'd do well – considering both subject matter and style, Arthur would undoubtedly be a great asset to any spoken word scene and if Mr. Luscombe was to turn up his bass, then I'm convinced by some of the sweet yet subtle melody lines found on tracks like 'Drive Me' plus the intensity and clear passion for his craft evident on 'The Western', plenty would embrace him....but for me, this time around, it's a definite no no!