Blancmange - Mange Tout

I always thought that Blancmange were a slightly misunderstood band. Lumped in with the "synth duo" crowd, they were always a bit too weird and outre to sustain much of a pop career. The first album is good, but they really hit their stride with this second outing. Neil Arthur was a lanky, awkward Lancastrian with such a great voice and Stephen Luscombe was a genuinely talented musician/arranger/producer who was wonderfully camp.

All three albums have been remastered and expanded and are definitely worth checking out. According to the Wikipedia page, the band have reformed and are recording new material.

This is a DMM vinyl rip at 320 Kbps. All artwork included.

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Everything But The Girl - Love Is Here Where I Live 12"

Pre the dance re-invention, EBTG had kind of lost their way a little bit. The A-Side here is a middling track, lifted from a middling mid-period album. So what do have? The unavailable anywhere else B-sides prove that they could still pull on the heartstrings without trying too hard. And Tracey's voice is such a thing of beauty that I could listen to her reading the phone book. If such a thing existed anymore.

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

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Bernard Sumner - The First Time

This wonderful BBC6 interview features Matt Everitt speaking to Bernard Sumner. The programme includes Bernard's recollections of the early Punk scene in Manchester, his still raw and painful memories of his friend Ian Curtis' suicide, and the genesis of New Order's Blue Monday.

Very moving. Highly recommended.

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Neil - Hole In My Shoe 7"

Wikipedia:
In the sitcom The Young Ones, Neil, one of the principal characters, continually sang a recognisable line from "Hole In My Shoe". Eventually, in July 1984, Nigel Planer who played the role, released a cover version of the song, which reached the same #2 peak as the original. He also performed the song as Neil on the BBC show Top of the Pops, where he asked Paul Weller to "listen to the lyrics!". The single won "Best Comedy Single" at the 1985 Brit Awards during the days the event was called "The BPI Awards".

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

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BBC Sessions, Anyone?

I'm late already, so I can't hang around. Just wanted to apologise to anyone who got a spam message from me today. It wasn't actually from me, but then you knew that already, right? Anyway, password changed so hopefully crisis averted.

I was keeping this till the weekend, but as I'm here now, here's something a bit special for the Cocteau heads out there. Although these reduced scale BBC versions don't perhaps have the impact of the proper studio stuff, they have a special charm all of their own. Instead of the usual "Cathedrals Of Sound", think "Maisonettes Of Sound".

I kill myself.

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Shock 12"

Brand new re-release of rare as rocking horse shit 80's 12" from Rusty Egan and Richard James Burgess (of Landscape/Einstein-A-Go-Go fame). I don't want this to become a retro blog, but this shit is sounding wonderful. Too current. There's a 2010 remix as well (which isn't as good, obv), so that let's me off the hook, right?

Vinyl rip at 320 Kbps.

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The Human League - The Sound Of The Crowd/HardTimes/Love Action 12" Singles

Awesome double of early Human League 12" singles, which as far as I know, have never been re-released anywhere. The Sound Of The Crowd was the first one with 'the girls" on and Hard Times/Love Action was when they started to get really good after the split. Quite, quite brilliant. It's all about the space between the beats for me. Absolutely wonderful production from Martin Rushent, who was as much a member of the band as any of them were. If you've heard the raw demos for "Dare", you will understand what a crucial role he played in shaping this stuff into some sort of enduring genius. I am back in my bedroom at my parents house. Floppy fringe obscuring one eye, alive with possibilities and dreams. This was the soundtrack to my youth. Fucking brilliant.

Vinyl rips at 320Kbps.

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