Blancmange

Blancmange were less aware of pop with 'Irene & Mavis' which was recorded in 1979 and stopped right there. A six track EP, rather experimental, echoing Cabaret Voltaire more than Depeche Mode in their sound. Originally a three piece (at first called 'L360' or something) with drummer Laurence Stevens (strange enough, the guy with the same name designed later record sleeves for Eurythmics, I wonder). 'Irene & Mavis' proves a collectible obscurity, omitted even from these pages as a mention - a combination of weird noise ('Disco A-Bomb-Bomb', 'Overspreading Art Genius, 'Modichy In Aneration') and a potential piss-take over ska bands ('Concentration Baby'). A slight hint of what was about to happen, came in a synth-pop tune 'Just Another Spectre', a moody instrumental giving much thought to the duo's first proper vynil exposure with semi-legendary V/A sampler 'Some Bizzare' (a track 'Sad Day'). After this Blancmange took more conventional, often surprisingly innovative step towards pop - 'Happy Families', their debut albums still stands as the most essential of the lot - 'Mange Tout' and 'Believe You Me' provoked mixed response and despite a number of impressive hits the duo split starting solo projects. Neil Arthur returned sometime in the 90s with Fortran 5 on their excellent single 'Persian Blues'...