Blancmange – Happy Families

There is a misprint on the side of the cover, in this edition: "HAPPY AMELIES'.

Can anyone verify that a non-remixed version of "Living on the Ceiling" exists? All cds to date have the remixed version.

P.E.R.F.E.C.T. ALBUM. Never get tired of this...

"Waves" is the Weinrich/Williams single remix, as confirmed only on the label, but moving it to the album opener does change the feel of this album, as does the inclusion of an earler mix of "Blind Vision" on Side B. "I Can't Explain" moves to the same side, and these two tracks work very well as a pairing. These changes do give this release a slightly different vibe to the original, and hence as a Blancmange collector this is a 'must'.

Canadian/USA release of Shriekback's "Care" had similar changes (more dramatic), which arguably improved the album, so it's an interesting concept that can sometimes really work.

Such an awesome LP! Wave density inside! 5/5

Only just discovered something after about 27 years - there are two different pressings of the UK edition of this album with a slight difference in the tracks. It has been bugging me that they used the remixed single version of "Waves" on the "Happy Families... Plus" CD reissue that was released in 2008, but it turns out later pressings of the original LP also features this version. The earlier pressing has the original album version of the song which sports a less polished, raw (and, in my opinion, better) production and does not feature the 'lush orchestral arrangement' as mentioned in Crijevo's review. Trouble is both pressings have the same catalogue number and is identical in many other ways, but if you read the credits on the back of the sleeve and it says 'Waves remixed by Denis Weinrich and John Owen Williams. Strings arranged by Linton Naiff.', then it's the later pressing. Another way to tell the two pressings apart is that the early one has the words 'SAD DAY - FOR HELEN' engraved in the lead-out on side two (the side that starts with "Waves"), whereas the later one has 'TY 2.3.83'.

Blancmange's debut album is undoubtedly one of the 80s' finest definitions - however, it is also memorable for its overambitious appeal.

1982 was a year-zero for many synth-pop bands breaking into the mainstream - albeit still delivering a synthetic beat, they pushed too hard in emulating the real instruments (which, 'ironically' is the finest moment here, on the duo's excellent blend of Eastern and Western sounds - a deserved hit-single "Living on the Ceiling"). Lush orchestral arrangement on "Waves" is as beautiful as it is over the top (think of this as a never announced winner of 'Sanremo' music festival of 1982), while "Sad Day" is equally exaggerated "up-to-date" version that don't hold a candle to the previously available, rough on the edges but stunning "Some Bizarre" version.

The album's highlights, besides 'Living of the Ceiling', offer enough to play it on repeat respectfully - "I've Seen the Word" is a stunning song, very close to what would have become of Joy Division, if only Ian Curtis managed to fight his horrific illness)... an excellent, mysterious opener 'I Can't Explain', phenomenal energetic 'Feel Me', moody 'Wasted' and the closing number 'God's Kitchen' - quite nihilistic pre-Blasphemous Rumours type of single Depeche were still a few years away from.

Definitely a collection of their finest moments (eventually, subsequent best-of compilations do include almost half of this album's repertoire), despite their later releases delivering decent singles, "Happy Families" remains unbeaten giant in Blancmange's catalogue.