Blancmange

Blancmange is a London-based British electropop, minimal synth, new wave and synth-pop group that forms in 1979. The core of the act is vocalist Neil Arthur and instrumentalist Stephen Luscombe, with Laurence Stevens also listed as a member.

Formation and early releases

The group forms in Harrow, Greater London, and takes its name from the dessert. Its first release is the EP Irene & Mavis, which appears the year after formation. Early exposure comes from a track on the compilation Some Bizarre, alongside acts including Soft Cell and Depeche Mode. That leads to a deal with London Records.

Before signing, Blancmange supports Nash the Slash on a London club tour in late 1980. Nash also introduces the band to DinDisc, a Virgin subsidiary, although the group ultimately signs to London Records in 1982.

Chart success

The band’s first notable single is Feel Me, which is a minor hit in 1982 and is influenced by Talking Heads. Later that year Living on the Ceiling becomes the breakthrough, reaching number 7 in the UK singles chart. The debut album Happy Families, which has a sleeve painting in the style of Louis Wain, reaches the UK top 30.

Further singles include Waves, Blind Vision, That’s Love That It Is and Don’t Tell Me, all of which reach the UK top 40. Don’t Tell Me reaches number 8. The second album Mange Tout reaches the UK top 10.

Later 1980s work and split

In 1984, Blancmange covers ABBA’s The Day Before You Came, which reaches number 22 in the UK. The 1985 single and video Lose Your Love features in the 1986 Walt Disney film Flight of the Navigator. As synth-pop falls out of favour, the band’s commercial results decline. What’s Your Problem reaches number 40 in 1985, and the album Believe You Me spends two weeks in the UK Albums Chart and peaks at number 54. Blancmange splits in 1987.

Solo work and reformation

After the split, Luscombe releases New Demons in 1989 with Pandit Dinesh under the name The West India Company, with Indian influences. Arthur releases his solo album Suitcase in 1994.

Arthur and Luscombe reform Blancmange in 2006 and work on material for Blanc Burn, which is released in 2011. The fifth studio album, Semi Detached, follows in 2015 and is the first Blancmange album to be made without Luscombe’s involvement after he leaves due to ill health. Arthur continues to record and tour under the Blancmange name.