by negative1 » Sun Aug 27, 2017 9:03 pm
[part 1 of 3]
ok, well this is my review of the deluxe boxsets for the
first 3 main albums from the band blancmange..
i first heard of them around 1984-5, coming in at a rather
late point in their first phase of history.. they also had the irene and mavis EP,
which was a nice experimental electronic set of tracks, not
represented here (but reissued a few years ago)....
then they became underground, and slight pop sensations with
tracks of happy families, like 'feel me', and 'living on the ceiling'..
they matured greatly, and broke through with several singles and
videos from their next album 'mange tout', and then went quiet
for awhile until 'believe you me' came out, and although somewhat
ok, it was not quite that solid, but did have some spectacular
singles off it, especially the epic 'lose your love', which
is my favorite track from them..
these boxsets (which you can get individually as 3cd sets), follow
the same format:
==========================
1 remastered album
2 demo and mixes
3 live tracks
however, some have extra mixes on the album disc, as there were far too many
tracks to include all of them in this set...
===========================================
the albums are presented in their original UK format, and the last set
of reissues had their fair share of problems, incorrect versions and
mislabeled tracks.. which most are fixed here, but not all...
these sets are probably aimed at the fans that are more collectors
and not casual fans, as the material is too obscure, or not quite
as approachable as their albums.
blancmange has always been a quirky band, much like the talking heads,
the frazier chorus, and other particularly wordy bands.
they also have a eastern flavored style that may not appeal to everyone.
in particular, i can't stand that type of music, but suprisingly the eastern
instruments work well here mixed with western vocals (which is why i can't
stand vishnu and it's horrible indian vocalist)... anyways...
i'm going to break down the tracks into more manageable categories,
than the mishmash that they seemed to have put them in..
i'm not worried about the boxes, lablels, or booklets, they are
all well done, and match each era, along with the color schemes..
happy families
===============================================================
album
------------
probably my least favorite album from them, but it does have several
hilights, and of course the classics 'feel me', and 'living on the ceiling'.
it's got a mostly nice mellow feel along with some clever lyrics mixed in..
blancmange would release a complete remake of the album, called 'happy families too',
and tour for that also..
Disc One
-------------------------------------------------------
1 I Can't Explain 4:00
2 Feel Me 5:07
3 I've Seeen The Word 3:00
4 Wasted 4:18
5 Living On The Ceiling 4:11
-----------------------------------------------------
note : fixed, as the previous version did not have the correct track here
6 Waves 4:07
7 Kind 3:56
8 Sad Day 4:05
9 Cruel 4:52
10 God's Kitchen 2:56
mixes
------------
d1 11 Living On The Ceiling [Extended] 5:39
----------------------------------------
a very good extension of the album track, and the a-side
of the 12 inch, with the 2 live b-sides coming later
d1 12 God's Kitchen [12" Mix] 4:28
-----------------------------------------------------
not really that different from the album mix, but longer,
never thought this was that dancey either, but the a-side
of another single (their first) - sometimes its the b-side
of 'i've seen the word'
d1 13 Feel Me [12" Instrumental] 5:08
d2 2 Feel Me [Extended 12" Version] 6:59
d2 12 Feel Me [Mike Howlett Dub Version] 6:48
-----------------------------------------------------
massive hit, and great remixes, with the first 2 coming
off the 12 inch single - still a classic, upbeat,
catchy chorus, and has several updates and remakes as well
the dub version is hardly that, featuring plenty of lyrics
throughout, and sounding very similar to the extended mix.
where are the 7 inch edits of these though?
bsides and demos
----------------
d1 14 Waves [Original Version - No Strings] 4:22
-----------------------------------------------------
as stated - the original version, more electro sounding,
and not quite as epic
d2 1 Sad Day [Original Version] 3:10
-----------------------------------------------------
a much shorter, slower paced, stripped down version of the
original with just leads, click track and bass
d2 3 Business Steps 4:28
-----------------------------------------------------
an early instrumental, quite good. Excerpt from the score "Pick Up"
Commissioned by Micha Bergese for the Mantis Dance Company, as part of "Dance Umbrella 1982"
it later showed up as a b-side to the 'waves' single
GENERAL NOTE : as with most demos, these are basically 4 tracks or so recordings
with the bare leads, bass, drums or computer tracks on them. they are also of a
much lower sonic quality. most are instrumental unless otherwise noted.
Also, most demos are rather short, and repetitive.
================================================================================
d2 4 Black Bell (Demo) 4:22
-----------------------------------------------------
a rather light hearted melody over some droning keyboard
sounds, repeats several times.
d2 5 Melodic Piece (Demo) 2:31
-----------------------------------------------------
a rather peaceful, slow tempo instrumental, with some
nice synth chords.
d2 6 Your Hills [Rehearsal] 2:46
-----------------------------------------------------
some atmospheric sounds, echoey and dripping effects,
with some guitar chords, and whistling. some rather
hard to understand lyrics. interesting to think where
this would have led to.
d2 7 I Can't Explain (Demo) 3:20
-----------------------------------------------------
a rather rough, raw, clunky, dark, electro version of the song.
the amount of polish they put on the finished album
version is incredible, and makes you wonder how they
got to it, starting with this.
d2 8 Waves (Demo) 4:45
-----------------------------------------------------
a little more ethereal sounding version of the song,
again with strings, but with the rougher vocals being
mixed down, and a stronger beat to it, gives it a
different feel.
d2 9 I've Seen The Word [1979 Demo] 3:05
-----------------------------------------------------
actually, besides the vocals being mixed higher, this
version has the sound of the near final version. with
some polish the song would be done. very good.
d2 10 Holland (Demo) 2:47
-----------------------------------------------------
blancmange does punk, lots of experimental sounds,
and then the random lyrics, with a throbbing guitar
riff going on, ending with some spaced out keyboard
sounds going on.
d2 11 I've Seen The Word (Demo) 2:25
-----------------------------------------------------
a much shorter, experimental sounding version of the
song.. definitely more electro, but mellows out once
the vocals kick in, and more chorusing going on in them. decent.
live
------------
RADIO 1 SESSION [13.2.82]
d3 1. I Would (RADIO 1 SESSION 13.2.82) 4:05
d3 2. Living On The Ceiling (RADIO 1 SESSION 13.2.82) 3:13
d3 3. Waves (RADIO 1 SESSION 13.2.82) 4:01
d3 4. Running Thin (RADIO 1 SESSION 13.2.82) 2:19
-----------------------------------------------------
tracks 1, and 4 would be on the b-side of the 'living on the ceiling' single.
sound quality is excellent, and although the songs are short, they convey
what the earliest live tracks (although in studio) would sound like.
track 2, 'living on the ceiling' has a much more electro sound to it, and
is a great alternate mix for it.
track 3, 'waves', still maintains the epic feel to it, but still electronic
sounding enough to be different take.
RADIO 1 SESSION [5.6.82]
d3 5. God’s Kitchen (RADIO 1 SESSION 5.6.82) 2:54
d3 6. Feel Me (RADIO 1 SESSION 5.6.82) 5:19
d3 7. Kind (RADIO 1 SESSION 5.6.82) 3:48
d3 8. Cruel (RADIO 1 SESSION 5.6.82) 3:49
-----------------------------------------------------
some nice radio intros, good quality recording of some tracks.
very little noise. again, most songs follow the album structures,
so not much variety in them. 'kind' has a slightly different feel
to it. this is a much more sedate set, than the earlier session.
IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE [13.11.82]
d3 9. God’s Kitchen (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 3:33
d3 10. Living On The Ceiling (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 4:33
d3 11. I’ve Seen The Word (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 3:36
d3 12. I Can’t Explain (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 4:23
d3 13. Waves (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 4:38
d3 14. Feel Me (IN CONCERT, PARIS THEATRE 13.11.82) 5:40
-----------------------------------------------------
another intro to this concert in paris in english, with select tracks.
neil introduces some of the songs. the sound quality is excellent, and
the songs mostly follow the album structures.
individual results
============================
+ excellent album remaster, although the album itself isn't their best to me
+ excellent radio sessions, and live tracks
+ very good remixes, and b-sides, good quality
o good job on fixing some of the mistakes of earlier versions
o ok set of demos and alternate takes
- not a very good job of putting tracks together, on first 2 discs
- not a very good order for the tracks
- missing a track or two edits
=======================================================
overall, if you're a fan of this album - get this set
if you're a collector - you'll want this album also.
the remaster quality is very good, if you're concered about sound quality.
if you're a casual fan - you'll probably want a best of collection
with the singles on them
later
-1
'feel me now'
[end part 1 of 3]