Semi Detached (Blancmange album)

Semi Detached is the sixth studio album by English band Blancmange, released in 2015. The album was the first to be created without the involvement of original member Stephen Luscombe due to health reasons.[1] Neil Arthur commenced writing material for the album in 2013-14, with recording taking place during 2014.[2] The album reached No. 22 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[3]

Semi Detached
Studio album by
Blancmange
Released23 March 2015[1]
Length46:32
LabelCherry Red Records
ProducerNeil Arthur
Blancmange chronology
Happy Families Too...
(2013)		 Semi Detached
(2015)		 Nil by Mouth
(2015)

"Paddington" was released as the album's first single on 9 March 2015. A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Tone Davies.[4] The second single, "Useless", was released on 15 May,[5] followed by "I Want More", released on 18 April as a limited edition 12" single for Record Store Day.[6][7]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
The Arts Desk[9]
Louder Than War[10]
Mojo[11]
MusicOMH[12]
Q[11]
Record Collector[13]
Uncut[11]

Upon release, David Jeffries of AllMusic considered the album to be a "very dark Blancmange album when compared to all the others, and quite emotionally heavy as well". He added: "Semi Detached is sincere in its distrust, distaste, and ire, and the album winds up a worthy companion for bad days or chucking it all."[8] Paul Scott-Bates of Louder Than War commented: "Arthur's Northern quirk is present throughout Semi Detached though the overall feel is darker. [It] is a modern day riposte to the Blancmange of the 80s. Still catchy, still infectious but now all grown up."[10]

Mark Elliott of Record Collector commented: "Semi Detached is a darker, icier project than any Blancmange have previously served up. A long distance from their frothier 80s form, it’s a set that shows Neil Arthur is more than capable of keeping this band on our radar for some time yet."[13] Graeme Marsh of MusicOMH wrote: "if you fancy a slightly off centre alternative to the mass appeal of more prominent electronic bands, despite a few wobbly bits here and there, then you won't go far wrong with giving this latest collection a chance."[12]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Fall"Neil Arthur, Graham Henderson8:08
2."I Want More"Michael Karoli, Irmin Schmidt, Holger Czukay, Jaki Liebezeit, Peter Gilmour3:57
3."Paddington"Arthur3:56
4."It Didn't Take Long"Arthur4:24
5."MKS Lover"Arthur4:17
6."Like I Do"Arthur3:34
7."Deep in the Mine"Arthur4:43
8."Acid"Arthur4:23
9."Useless"Arthur3:27
10."Bloody Hell Fire"Arthur5:48
Deluxe edition - disc two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Want Your Love (Extended Version)"Bernard Edwards, Nile Rodgers6:43
2."Silk Sea"Arthur3:29
3."That Worm"Arthur5:12
4."Paddington (Extended Version)" 5:36
5."I Want More (Extended Version)" 7:15
6."Like I Do (Extended Version)" 4:50
7."Useless (Extended Version)" 4:36
8."Paddington (Alternative Edit)" 4:04
9."I Want Your Love" 5:16

Chart performance
Chart (2015) Peak
position
UK Independent Albums Chart[3] 22

Personnel
  • Neil Arthur - lead vocals, keyboards
  • David Rhodes - guitar
  • Jake Parker - backing vocals
  • Eleanor Arthur - backing vocals (track 3), additional vocals (track 2)
  • Helen Kincaid, Joe Arthur, Tony Brook, Harvey Brook, Reed Wilson, Rupert Howe - additional vocals (track 2)
Production
  • Adam Fuest - mixing
  • Neil Arthur - producer
  • Tim Debney - mastering
Other
  • Adam Yeldham - artwork
  • Helen Kincaid - asteroid painting
  • Steve Malins - management
gollark: Not for to forall or whatever, since they're totally different.
gollark: Oh, I'm just comparing `for` for all loops versus actually using separate keywords for semantically different things.
gollark: What's easier to read?
gollark: Go making all loops `for` (WHY DOES IT DO THAT) doesn't make it much simpler, since you still have to *know* all the weird ways to use it and so does the compiler.
gollark: I mean, that's not a thing of *keywords*, just of... more language features, really.

References
  1. "Semi Detached (Deluxe 2CD Edition)". Blancmange. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  2. "News | INTERVIEW: Blancmange". The Quietus. 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  3. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  4. "Video exclusive – Blancmange lay Paddington bare in new video - Classic Pop Magazine". Classicpopmag.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  5. "Useless - Single by Blancmange on Apple Music". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  6. "'I Want More' 12 inch for Record Store Day". Blancmange. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  7. "Blancmange - I Want More (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2015-04-18. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  8. AllMusic Review by David Jeffries (2015-03-31). "Semi Detached - Blancmange | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  9. https://theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-blancmange-%E2%80%93-semi-detached
  10. "Blancmange: Semi Detached - album review". Louder Than War. 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  11. "Semi Detached by Blancmange Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
  12. https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/blancmange-semi-detached
  13. "Semi Detached - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 2018-10-23.
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