Blancmange new album
Blancmange

Blancmange have announced details of a new album, Private View, and a return to the label that released the band’s debut album, London Records. Private View is out on vinyl, CD and digitally on 30 September 2022.

The album is being teased by a brand new single, Some Times These, a hook-heavy piece of electronic art-pop that combines Neil Arthur’s vocals with David Rhodes’ guitar and washes of immersive synths. 

Benge returns as a key collaborator on album, while Rhodes (Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel, Scott Walker) returns as guitarist, having previously performed with the band on 1982’s Happy Families (as well as several other Blancmange albums).

Private View is set for release on London Records almost exactly 40 years to the day since they released their debut Happy Families.

In their post-punk early days, Blancmange made tape loops and experimental sounds with kitchen utensils, before developing into one of the definitive British electronic pop acts. Since reforming in 2011 (Luscombe had to leave shortly after for health reasons) Arthur has released a staggering 10 albums in the last decade.

“I don’t know whether I’m on a roll but I feel something in me has been released,” he says. “I used to hold back and I didn’t trust myself. While I’m still full of self-doubt I’m now quite comfortable with it. This is it. We’ve only got one time around the block, so make the most of it.” 

The past is used as a trigger to create new ideas – one track, Here We Go Go, has been in Arthur’s head since 1980.

“A lot of people are frightened of the future and are quite happy to have a repeat of something that was done before,” he says. “But it’s just not for me. Looking forward you’ve got a hell of a world to try and navigate through at the moment. We’re all moving forward – so we’ve got to try and find some answers.” 

An extensive UK tour throughout October, November and December will follow a performance at Grace Jones’ Meltdown in June, with a London show at the Islington Assembly Hall on 9 December. 

You can pre-order Private View here.

Private View tracklisting

What’s Your Name

Some Times These

Reduced Voltage

Here We Go Go

Chairs

Who Am I

Everything Is Connected

I Tried To Be You

Private View

Take Me 

PRIVATE VIEW TOUR

17 June – Grace Jones’ Meltdown – Southbank Centre, London

6 Oct – The HMV Empire, Coventry – w/ Bernholz

7 Oct – The Junction, Cambridge – w/ Oblong

8 Oct – Subscription Rooms, Stroud – w/ Oblong

13 Oct – Arts Centre, Colchester – w/ Oblong

14 Oct – University Y Plas, Cardiff – w/ Oblong

15 Oct – Cheese and Grain, Frome – w/ Oblong

20 Oct – Sub 89, Reading – w/ Oblong

21 Oct – The Level, Nottingham – w/ Oblong

22 Oct – Glassbox Theatre, Gillingham – w/ Oblong

27 Oct – The Fleece, Bristol – w/ Alice Hubble

28 Oct – The Boilerroom, Guildford – w/ Alice Hubble

29 Oct – Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne – w/ Alice Hubble

4 Nov – Exeter Theatre, Exeter

5 Nov – The Brook, Southampton

10 Nov – The Mill, Birmingham – w/ Alice Hubble

11 Nov – Kanteena, Lancaster – w/ Alice Hubble

12 Nov – The Forum Theatre, Barrow-in-Furness – w/ Alice Hubble

17 Nov – Corn Hall, Diss

18 Nov – Gorilla, Manchester – w/ Stephen Mallinder

19 Nov – Hangar 34, Liverpool – w/ Stephen Mallinder

24 Nov – The Wardrobe, Leeds – w/ Stephen Mallinder

25 Nov – The Leadmill, Sheffield – w/ Stephen Mallinder

26 Nov – The Riverside, Newcastle – w/ Stephen Mallinder

1 Dec – The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen – w/ Stephen Mallinder

2 Dec – The Liquid Room, Edinburgh – w/ Stephen Mallinder

3 Dec – Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow – w/ Stephen Mallinder

9 Dec – Concorde 2, Brighton – w/ Stephen Mallinder

10 Dec – Islington Assembly Hall, London – w/ Stephen Mallinder