THE LOTUS EATERS - DIFFERANCE



Tracks:
1. Richochet 3.17
2.Manifesto for Feeling 3.42
3.Melt Into The Sky 4.05
4.Music Lost In Voodoo 4.07
5.Can't Live Your Life Stuck Into Wars 3.12
6.Drugs For Sale 3.40
7.If You Need  Me Now 3.23
8. Running Through America 3.54
9.Wishing That You Would Stay 3.17
10.Long Live The Fear 4.25

                                              Richochet - live  6-11-2010  The Barfly, Camden
                                            from BlueKoyoteIreland.youtube - thanks a lot!

              

       

                   This is the third album by the legendary New Wave  duo from Liverpool, The Lotus Eaters. A limited edition, released exclusively in  Japan in  Oct. 2010. If   Silentspace, its excellent predecessor is more stripped-down as compared to the classic,  No Sense Of Sin-- Differance is entirely acoustic. Only the smooth vocals  of Peter Coyle and the ringing guitars of Jem Kelly (with  backing vocals on some tracks by Saree Williams) are heard. While the mood is almost entirely somber; nevertheless, I find it  just as enchanting and mesmerizing, especially  tracks such as "Richochet," "Manifesto For Feeling," "Melt Into The Sky," "Can't Live Your Life Stuck Into Wars" and "Wishing That You'd Stay."

            Removed of  additional productions, Jem Kelly's superb plucking and strumming improvisations are  very evident here, whereas, Peter Coyle's voice is just as cool, as smooth and as haunting as ever. Just like  Silentspace, it may be a little difficult to connect  at first but  after repeated spins this will surely  be "tatooed in your mind." -- Definitely a must-have for  fans.     

If you need me now -  live 6-10- 2010 Cavern, Liverpool

from ackwardsquadproject.youtube- thanks a lot!

                

New Wave, Post-punk and related albums that blew me away (Part 1)

            

               I just found out today, while surfing the internet that From the Lions Mouth, The Sound's (a post-punk band from the late 70's up to mid-80's) second album , originally released in 1981,  was again reissued in CD format just this January, 2012. This album , first reissued  by Renascent Records  in  2002, was already out-of-print for many years. It  is a much sought after CD among New Wave and Post-punk  enthusiast and usually sells at auction sites like Ebay  at a very steep price. I saw one sold at Ebay three years ago for about $150. I for one got my copy in such a prohibitive price (by CD standard) that I don’t want to even remember it; so, I   buried it in my subconscious! (Is that possible?)  This CD is for keeps anyway. 

           

            Prior to hearing From the Lions Mouth I have only known just one The Sound song and that is, the highly emotional, “Total Recall,”  popular among New Wavers here ,  as it was played  in radio stations that caters for New Wave music during the 80's and is often found in various New Wave compilations.

            It  was  four years ago when I got  intrigued by the fuss with this CD.  After doing some research and some inquiries from my New Wave acquaintances, I learned that The Sound, is a great 80's post-punk band  that was given little recognition during their existence and the album From the Lions Mouth is regarded as one of the masterpiece post-punk release of that era. Thanks to file-sharing I was able to obtain my initial  copy; and upon hearing, my reaction was , "Wow!"--no wonder it is a much  sought after record.  It was really TERRIFIC! I was blown way! And as the saying goes, the rest  was history, as  my wallet got blown away too.

          

          Anyway, this got me thinking about other New Wave, Post-punk  and related albums in my collection that likewise blew me away. Those impressive  albums that (if I may use my favorite cliche), "instantly grab you by the neck” or  hook  you immediately on  initial  play or almost  instantly forms an emotional connection with you. After scanning my CD collections, I came up with the following: 

1. The Sound - From The Lions Mouth

2. Echo and the Bunnymen - Heaven Up Here

3. The Lotus Eaters - No Sense of Sin

4. The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge: Superb album!  By the way,  "Tears" is the only Chameleons song  I've heard played on New Wave radio stations in the 80's. "Perfume Garden" & "Tears" are the only Chameleons' songs I have seen in various New Wave compilations here in the Philippines.

5. Tear For Fears- The Hurting

6. The Church - Heyday: The  first New Wave album ( a cassette tape actually) I bought. It was 1986, I was in a record store looking for a cassette tape containing "The  Unguarded Moment" song when I stumbled  upon this album. Even though not knowing any song in it,  I purchased it and I'm glad I did. Incidentally, at that time I didn't know that "The Unguarded Moment" was released wayback in  1981. I thought it was a new song then because it was being played frequently on the  radio.      

7. Depeche Mode - Black Celebration: I thought then that the Depeche Mode 81-85 Singles Collection would be enough for me,  until I decided to buy this CD  for the bonus track "But Not Tonight".  Ever since, I've followed all their studio album  releases. 

8. The Wild Swans - Bringing Home the Ashes 

9. The Cure - Disintegration

10.   Michael Head (The Strands) - The Magical World of the Strands: I bought this CD based only on  the 'name recognition' of Michael Head (of The Pale Fountains). Absolutely stunning!

11. Prefab Sprout - Andromeda Heights: I just bought this because it was selling very cheap.(A used copy). Glad I did!  This is my favorite Prefab Sprout album  even though it doesn't have any of their popular hits.

12. Echo and the Bunnymen - Flowers:  I did not even know they still exist,  until my brother brought this CD  from  the U.S. in  2003.  Hearing this blew me away and my love for New wave music was  rekindled.    

13. Echo and the Bunnymen - Siberia.

14. Duran Duran - All You Need is Now (http://mrcubaoboy.blogspot.com/2011/11/duran-durans-all-you-  need-is-now.html)

15.The Wild Swans - The Coldest Winter for a Hundred Years

Review: OMD Live in Manila - It's no secret... OMD is simply amazing

The New Wave synth-pop pioneer band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark held the one-night only Manila leg of their  History of Modern Tour  last March 12, 2012 at the famous Smart  Araneta Coliseum. The frantic bass-lines of the edgy "New babies: New toys", the opening track in their latest album,  History of Modern(2010),  kicked-off the high-energy concert. The audience  responded   to the call of the super-charged Andy McCluskey to stand up as he  appeared on the stage . However, they weren’t moving much or dancing enough to  his expectations. Perhaps surprised  by his  high-octane stage presence or they were just trying to decipher the tune that was sounding like a  classic OMD. After the song the witty McCluskey uttered, “ I know that was a new one, don't look so frightened, we're gonna play all the hits." The audience erupted in  cheers-- that broke the ice as from that  point, aside from the set of slow songs in the mid- part of the concert ,   the big-dome was like a gigantic dance floor as the audience danced, jumped, swayed and loudly sang along as the   OMD   went through their set consisting of their greatest hits peppered with  some tracks   from their latest album. .

Their first U.K. chart hit, the broodingly melodic “Messages” and the bouncy “Tesla Girls” followed, much to the audience's delight. A lesser known track “Radio Waves,” a gem from the 1983 experimental album, Dazzle Ships, came next   after which McClusky announced, “It’s bad dancing time”( a reference to his dancing style which on the contrary is actually good ) rousing the audience even more. After delivering the exhilarating “History of Modern Part 1” ( the 3rd  single from their latest album), two of their most popular hits came next; the sublime, "(Forever) Live and Die," sang by Paul Humphreys; and their  U.S.A. top 10   hit, the beautiful lament “If You Leave.” While  performing the latter, scenes from the 1986 movie Pretty in Pink, a teen-age  romance  classic which helped catapult the song into the charts and  OMD into global stardom, was  shown on the backdrop. Andy McCluskey once joked that they were actually an alternative band before this song. The audience swayed and swooned with much emotion on this one as if they were in  the '80’s again. 

The tempo was slowed down  as they performed the following set of   six songs: the  trio of U.K. top 5 hits from their critically acclaimed 1981 album, Architecture and Morality-- the lush and  lovely  “Souvenir,” OMD’s first single with  Paul Humphreys  on vocals; the atmospheric ethereal,  “Joan of Arc,” and the waltz-tinged, “Maid of Orleans,” their twin tribute to the Catholic saint;  the somber, “Statues,”  from their 1980 album ,Organisation. Although a song that is  likely unfamiliar to most in attendance , it managed to captivate them as well,  garnering  loud cheers of appreciation; the aching ballad, entitled  “Green” (from the History of Modern), wherein the stage lights and the backdrop turned green; and before performing the playful tune , “Talking loud clear,”  McCluskey reminded the audience to  “enjoy the last of the  slow songs" because after this ," it’s non-stop dancing time."

            Non-stop dancing time indeed, as the big-dome  turned into a huge dance floor as OMD delivered  the following   well-loved classics and  hits and a  final number from their latest album:  “So In Love,” their first song to chart in the U.S. top 40 in 1985, where McCluskey  delivered the falsetto superbly; the operatic “ Sister Marie Says”( the second single from History of Modern);  the upbeat “Locomotion,” a top 5  U.K. hit from their fourth album , Junk Culture;  the splendorous “Dreaming” where the audience  sang their hearts out  to  the chorus;  and after the pounding rhythm of  “Sailing on the Seven Seas,”  the set culminated in the New Wave genre classic , the gloriously uptempo, “Enola Gay” elevating the nostalgic exuberance even higher. McCluskey and Humphreys then  thank the audience for  the warm reception and after acknowledging the band members, exited the stage as the clamor for 'more'  reverberated in the arena.   

OMD returned for their 3 song encore after the deafening chants of “Secret”, “Secret,” ”Secret”… filled the big dome. Obviously, this has to be the favorite OMD song of Filipino New Wavers. The encore began with the soaring ”Walking on a Milky Way,”  proceeding with the crowd-pleaser of the night, the  gorgeous synth-ballad “Secret” sang by Humphreys and finally ending with the propulsive beats of “Electricity,”  the first song they(McCluskey and Humphreys) ever wrote.
 

All in all, for me  this was not just another night of memorable  and nostalgic  concert of one of my New Wave heroes, this has to be one of the best concerts I have ever  attended. Led by McCluskey, who kept the audience moving as he continuously danced, jumped , flailed, shook hands, and   exchanged high-fives ,  this 50-something  four-piece ensemble displayed an amazing  showmanship and  energy. "The kind of performance  that shows when band members are having fun together," as  Paul Humphreys said  in their  2010 tour  programme  book.    

 

OMD live in Manila, 3-12-12: Some thoughts and afterthoughts

Araneta Coliseum

It was drizzling last night, as if purposely cooling-off the hot summer day for an all important event among Pinoy New Wavers, happening at  the historic  Araneta  Coliseum, that is, the Liverpool’s  iconic synthpop veterans  Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark’s-- a.k.a. OMD  first live concert here in the country.

***********************************************************************

To the hordes of Pinoy New Wavers who troop to the coliseum last night, it was another nostalgic moment to cherish. As a witness to one of the greatest era of pop history, OMD’s  endearing, high-energy,  and electrifying  performance serves as a perfect reminder to us, of how AWESOME was (and still is)  80's NEW WAVE MUSIC.

***********************************************************************
Set list: Dazzle Ships, New Babies: New Toys, Messages, Tesla Girls, Radio Waves, History of Modern (Part 1), Forever Live and Die, If You Leave, Souvenir, Joan of Arc, Maid Of Orleans, Statues, Green, So In Love, Sister Marie  Says, Locomotion, Dreaming, Sailing on the Seven  Seas, Enola Gay. Encore: Walking On A Milky Way  Way, Secret, Electicity

**********************************************************************

As expected, their  popular songs here earned the loudest cheers:  "Enola Gay," Souvenir,"         "Secret," So In love,"  "If You leave,"  "(Forever) Live and Die," and  "Dreaming."

***********************************************************************

The most applauded song:  "Secret" 

***********************************************************************

The most applauded new song: "Sister Marie Says"

***********************************************************************

I was quite disappointed that though the event  was well-attended and successful, it  did not sell-out .  

***********************************************************************

The three new songs they performed such as "New Babies:New Toys," "History of Modern (Part 1)" and  "Sister Mary Says," could  fit  well in their greatest hits collection. OMD is  a  relevant band -  not just for nostalgia.

***********************************************************************

This is part of the History of Modern Tour but there was no History of Modern CD available

***********************************************************************

Andy McCluskey's passionate performance was truly amazing! Among the many adjectives used to describe his dancing style are the following:  bizarre, awkward, frantic, jerking, energetic , gyrating and  weird

***********************************************************************

The three Paul Humphrey's sung numbers were amongst  the most applauded.

*********************************************************************** 

Andy McCluskey was able to keep the energy and the crowd moving. Even in slow tempo songs and in some   unfamiliar (to most in attendance) album tracks like the 1983 Dazzle Ships' gem, "Radio Waves" (this song actually predates OMD) and  "Statues" from 1980 Organisation,  he was able to enthrall the audience.

***********************************************************************

It's great that their classical line-up is complete but from were I sat at the Upper Box-A section, I could hardly notice Mal Holmes and Martin Cooper. I wish  the stage was as bright as their music. 

***********************************************************************

Selling for Php 1,500 pesos , I was wondering what's with the souvenir t-shirt?     

***********************************************************************

I'm glad I bought the  OMD Live in Berlin CD/hardback book  History of Modern 2010 Tour Programme. It's worth it.

***********************************************************************

My favorite quote of the night from Andy McCluskey:  feeling  that the crowd's  response was a bit  lacking (we were awed)  after  their opening number , "New babies: New toys,"  he  uttered,  " I know that was a new one, don't look so frightened, we're going to play all the hits," elliciting  loud cheers from the audience.  
***********************************************************************
In terms of enthusiasm,  passion,  energy,  great performace and love for interacting with the audience,  Andy McCluskey is among the best , if not the best among New Wave   acts I've witnessed.

My souvenirs - Poster, CD/2010 Tour Programme book & promotional card

THE LISTENING POOL – STILL LIFE

            



Martin Cooper   Paul Humphreys   Mal Holmes

            It’s OMD week in our household. The week prior to their concert in Manila( this March 12 , 2012),  only OMD songs will be played in our house and car stereo.

           As I was taking  out my OMD CDs from the  rack, an unassuming album entitled, Still  Life, from an  unassuming band, called  , The Listening Pool, suddenly entered my mind. OMD fans who are familiar with this band will likely  include this CD with their OMD collections. The only reason why I don’t place it  together with my OMD CDs is because  I arrange my CDs in strictly alphabetical order.

Brief History (from Wikipedia)

            The Listening Pool is  made up of 3 out of the 4 OMD's classical line-up. They are Martin Cooper, Paul Humphreys and Mal Holmes. The band was formed after OMD’s  original-lineup split in 1989.  Andy McCluskey was given the right to continue using  OMD as his nom de guerre in exchange for allowing Paul Humphreys to extricate himself from their contract with Virgin records. Still Life is their  only album. It was released in 1994 under The Listening Pool’s own label, Telegraph Records. The same recording company which released China Crisis’ Acoustically Yours  album in 1995. The Listening Pool folded-up for good in 1996.

            Without Andy McCluskey, which undeniably is the more dominant figure in OMD, Still Life showcases Paul Humphreys’ ability  as a singer and keyboard player as well as  Martin Coopers’ solid bass playing and  Mal Holmes' tight drumming. They all passed  with flying colors as this album is,  in terms of quality could stand side by side  with any OMD releases. Afterall, Paul Humphreys is the driving force  behind some of OMD's hits such as "Souvenir," "Secret" and " (Forever)Live and Die." 

              In Still Life, the music do not soar high like many OMD songs, owing to Humpreys limited vocal range, but the superb songwriting makes up for it. They were not trying to be an OMD clone anyway. In general, I would described this album   as mellow, smooth and   jazzy  with many great melodies that are hummable and memorable,  provided you let it grow on you. This is definitely a must-have for all OMD fans. .

Tracks:

1. * "Meant To Be" – 4:15
2. * "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
3. * "Follow Where You Go" – 3:54
4. * "Breathless" – 4:17
5.  *"Somebody Somewhere" 4:03
6.    "Promised the World" – 4:28
7.    "Blue Africa" – 4:33
8.  * Still Life" – 4:34
9.   "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:33
10.   "Wild Strawberries"3:55
11.   "Hand Me That Universe" – 2:11

             * my favorite tracks

Meant to be

Breathless

Oil For The Lamps Of China

I would like to acknowledge and thank mipebar.youtube and preddy699.youtube for the videos.

RANKING OMD ALBUMS

            The OMD concert in Manila is a week away. To prepare for the event, I made a declaration: “It’s OMD week.” This means (whether my family  like it or not) I’ll be playing only OMD songs in the house and in the car.

            Today I'm thinking about how I would rank OMD albums. Reading album rankings of my favorite bands in Amazon and in various internet sites always interest me. It feels nice to find someone whom you share a common thought on what is the best or what is the worst album of your favorite bands. It fascinates me that most of the time our views are different. Needless to say, music appreciation is certainly subjective. What may be “the best” for me , could be “the worst” for someone.

            I find it difficult choosing which is  the best OMD album. Their albums have different styles, substance and moods. It’s like comparing apples from oranges so to speak. I cannot pick their worst album either, because I like all their albums and so, I’ll be ranking their albums from my  top-favorite to my least-favorite... Here it is: 

1. Architecture & Morality – Classic! Took me a long  simmering  though. 
2. Sugar Tax – Pop bliss! Perfect!
3. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - May sound  dated now but still a collection of nice songs. Great Debut album.
4. Junk Culture - Always enjoy playing this album--  9/10 stars.      
5. History of Modern – even with some elements from as far back as 1981, this is more akin to McCluskey’s OMD (Sugar Tax- Universal). Great comeback album! Thought of placing it as high as number three but I'm a bit bias to their earlier releases.  
6. Universal -  underated and underpromoted.
7. Crush - Contains two of their most popular songs here in the Philippines. "So In Love" & "Secret."
8. The Pacific Age - I consider this as Crush-lite
9. Liberator - in my view, the weakest of the 3 McCluskey's OMD releases,  nevertheless,  a very   good album 
10. Organisation – I could have placed this several steps higher but I just can't stand their rendition  of “The More I See You.” 
11. Dazzle Ships – Highly experimental. 
    
    

    

    My OMD cds