Blancmange To Release New Album 'Semi Detached' This Month + Stream "Paddington"

Eccentric musical pioneers Blancmange will release their fifth studio album 'Semi Detached', on March 23 through Cherry Red Records.

The follow-up to their 2011's comeback album 'Blanc Burn', was mixed by Adam Fuest, and is shot through with lyrics inspired by Neil Arthur’s instinct for surreal juxtapositions and abstract wordplay It is the first without the involvement of original member and Neils long term collaborator, Stephen Luscombe, due to health reasons.

While retaining Blancmange’s characteristic humour, with this new album Arthur has moved on from some of the old tics and mannerisms to create an edgy, pared down and deeply personal record, getting the balance absolutely right between grit and light, the domestic and the cosmic, despair and joy. 

The record features a tribute to Mark E Smith's band on "The Fall" and a cover of Can's "I Want More". Pre-order your copy here.

The band have also unveiled the video for the abum's first single "Paddington", which is out today (March 9), and celebrates London through a blur of evocative, fragmented images – a random memory recall of life in the city. 

Check out the video for "Paddington", directed by Tone Davies, and the tracklist for 'Semi Detached' below.

Semi Detached Tracklist:

DELUXE EDITION DISC 1
1. The Fall
2. I Want More
3. Paddington
4. It Didn't Take Long
5. MKS Lover 
06. Like I Do
7. Deep In The Mine
8. Acid
9. Useless
10. Bloody Hell Fire

DELUXE EDITION DISC 2:
1 I Want Your Love (Extended Version)
2 Silk Sea
3 That Worm
4 Paddington (Extended Version)
5 I Want More (Extended Version)
6 Like I Do (Extended Version)
7 Useless (Extended Version)
8 Paddington (Alternative Edit)
9 I Want Your Love                                  

This deluxe edition comes with a second CD of exclusive and extended mixes. A limited number will be signed by Blancmange.

Website: blancmange.co.uk

Blancmange Announce "Happy Families, Too…" New Tour and Album

Blancmange have announce they will return to the stage this November to perform the whole of their debut album 'Happy Families' (1982) live for the first time, with the songs which won popular acclaim three decades ago given a 21st century spin. 

Specially re-recorded by Blancmange – and rechristened Happy Families, Too… – the new recording will be on sale exclusively at tour venues.

Co-produced by Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe, Neil refers to the new versions as an "interpretation". "I just wanted to approach the songs using today's technology," he says. "Every time we perform it's a different interpretation. So rather than just dust off the old songs, I wanted to bring something fresh to the project and make it a contemporary reworking rather than an exact imitation."

Continuing health issues mean Stephen is unable to join Neil on the tour. However, he will be joined by guitarist David Rhodes, who performed on the original album, and sound engineer Adam Fuest, who will manipulate the live mix from the stage. "The intention is to do something a bit like Roxy Music did with Brian Eno processing sounds live during a performance," says Neil. "It might be less predictable, but I like the chance element – the feeling I'm moving forward creatively."

The tour begins on 3 November in Clitheroe, Lancashire, finishing in London and Cardiff on 15th & 16th. 

Website: http://www.blancmange.co.uk