Live review – Blancmange, London Queen Elizabeth Hall, 17/6/22
Synthpop’s most underappreciated warriors may have their day yet
For a band that makes such an art of the cold steel of icy electronic pop, Blancmange certainly know how to elicit warmth from an audience.
With only a mere half an hour to toy with, and despite the fact that their appearance in the potentially intimidating, all-seated Queen Elizabeth Hall is as a support act for John Grant, they win over the capacity crowd and clearly earn themselves a lot of fans.
We would say ‘new’ fans, but Blancmange have always been a central part of the 80s synthpop revolution, integrally weaved into its tapestry even if others are more obviously prominent. You only need to hear genuine pop monsters like ‘Living On The Ceiling’ and their closing tune ‘Blind Vision’ lurking among their seven song set and you’ll be left wondering why they aren’t more appreciated. They have the dancefloor credentials and art school visual cool of New Order, the gently self-mocking sideways wink of the Pet Shop Boys and the raw slabs of sticky melody and modernist throbbing of Depeche Mode. The only things missing are the stadiums full of sweaty, adoring fans and piles of cash.
Still ,it’d be nice to think they still might stand a chance. Essentially the vehicle for singer Neil Arthur these days, joined tonight by two session musicians, one on none-more-80s drum pads while the other manipulates a collection of unidentifiable electronic equipment seemingly purloined from a rather upmarket physics lab. Arthur, who has a Kraftwerk-like love of cycling long distances, is in great shape but then so is their sound – his distinctive, commanding voice unbowed by time and the economic, powerful arrangements working well for a post acid house sensibility.
There’s even a new album (Private View) on the horizon arriving imminently, and the current single ‘Some Times These’ sounding a little more world weary but equally well sculpted and appealing. The thought that Blancmange might have their second day in the sun certainly is a sweet one – let’s make it happen.,
Ben Willmott