Wanderlust is the tenth studio album by British synth-pop band Blancmange, released in 2018. It was produced by Neil Arthur and Benge, and reached No. 22 on the UK Independent Albums Chart.[2] The single "Not a Priority" features Hannah Peel on backing vocals.[3]
| Wanderlust | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 19 October 2018[1] | |||
| Length | 45:52 | |||
| Label | Blanc Check Records | |||
| Producer | Neil Arthur, Benge | |||
| Blancmange chronology | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Louder Than War | favourable[4] |
| MusicOMH |   [5] |
| The Spill Magazine |  [6] |
Upon release, Paul Scott-Bates of Louder Than War wrote: "...if anything, this album is potentially [Neil Arthur's] finest work. It is sparse whilst having depth, it is humorous whilst maintaining seriousness, but most importantly of all, it shows a man on the top of his game."[4] Aaron Badgley of The Spill Magazine commented: "Wanderlust is a brilliant album, and it does not sound like any other Blancmange album. Arthur, along with Benge has created a rather dark and at times frightening album. In its darkness, it is quite beautiful."[6]
Nick Smith of MusicOMH considered Wanderlust to be a "brilliant album", containing "dark and inspired comment on modern life". He also felt the album was reminiscent of the 2009 album Yeah Ghost by Zero 7.[5] Patrick Clarke of The Quietus noted: "Wanderlust may be hit and miss, in terms of seizing its own momentum and blending Arthur's left-field writing with its steely electronica, but it shimmers with personality."[7]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Neil Arthur and Benge
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Distant Storm" | 5:31 |
| 2. | "In Your Room" | 3:53 |
| 3. | "I Smashed Your Phone" | 4:43 |
| 4. | "Gravel Drive Syndrome" | 3:55 |
| 5. | "Talking to Machines" | 5:22 |
| 6. | "Not a Priority" | 4:30 |
| 7. | "TV Debate" | 3:44 |
| 8. | "Leaves" | 4:22 |
| 9. | "White Circle, Black Hole" | 4:42 |
| 10. | "Wanderlust" | 5:30 |
Personnel
edit- Neil Arthur – vocals, synthesiser, guitar, percussion, producer, mixing, arrangement, design
- Benge – synthesiser, drum machine, producer, mixing, arrangement
- David Rhodes – guitar (track 8)
- Hannah Peel – backing vocals (track 6)
- Shawn Joseph – mastering
Other
- Paul Agar – design
Charts
edit| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums Chart[2] | 22 |
References
edit- ^ "Wanderlust - Blancmange | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "News | LISTEN: New Blancmange". The Quietus. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Blancmange: Wanderlust - album review". Louder Than War. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ a b "Blancmange - Wanderlust | Album Reviews". 19 October 2018.
- ^ a b Badgley, Aaron (19 October 2018). "Spill Album Review: Blancmange - Wanderlust". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
- ^ "Reviews | Blancmange". The Quietus. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.