Qobuz Store wallpaper
Categories:
Cart 0

Your cart is empty

Blancmange|Happy Families

Happy Families

Blancmange

Available in
16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo

Unlimited Streaming

Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps

Start my trial period and start listening to this album

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Subscribe

Enjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription

Digital Download

Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.

Blancmange's first album, 1982's Happy Families, yielded the minor radio hit "Living on the Ceiling," which also received a good deal of attention from early MTV. Though Happy Families can accurately be described as techno-pop, it's techno-pop with a modicum of taste and sophistication, putting it more in the ballpark of genre pioneers like OMD and Yazoo than of annoying '80s anachronisms like Kajagoogoo or EBN-OZN. Neil Arthur's lyrics are interesting enough to reward close listening, and his Bowie-esque voice, while somewhat limited, serves the material well. The sound of Happy Families is built largely around synthesizers, played by Arthur and partner Stephen Luscombe. The duo have a knack for catchy basslines and drum programming, on top of which they strategically deploy guitars, Eastern instrumentation, and female backing vocals. Particular highlights include "I Can't Explain" (not the Who song), "Feel Me," "Sad Day," and "God's Kitchen."

© Bill Cassel /TiVo

More info

Happy Families

Blancmange

launch qobuz app I already downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS Open

download qobuz app I have not downloaded Qobuz for Windows / MacOS yet Download the Qobuz app

You are currently listening to samples.

Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.

Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.

From kr133.33/month

1
I Can't Explain
00:04:00

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Luscombe, Composer - Stephen Luscombe, Composer - Arthur, Composer - Neil Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1994 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

2
Feel Me
00:05:05

Blancmange, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Author - Neil Arthur, Composer, Author - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

3
I've Seen The Word
00:03:00

Blancmange, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Author - Neil Arthur, Composer, Author - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

4
Wasted
00:04:17

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Composer - Neil Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

5
Living On The Ceiling
00:04:10

Blancmange, MainArtist - Dennis Weinrich with John O.Williams, Remixer - MIKE HOWLETT, Producer - Stephen Luscombe, Author - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

6
Waves
00:04:07

Blancmange, MainArtist - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1983 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

7
Kind
00:03:55

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Composer - Neil Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

8
Sad Day (Edit)
00:04:04

Blancmange, MainArtist - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

9
Cruel
00:04:52

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Composer - Neil Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

10
God's Kitchen
00:02:54

Blancmange, MainArtist - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

11
Living On the Ceiling (Extended Version)
00:05:37

Blancmange, MainArtist - Dennis Weinrich with John O.Williams, Remixer - MIKE HOWLETT, Producer - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

12
God's Kitchen (12" Mix)
00:04:27

Blancmange, MainArtist - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

13
Feel Me (Extended 12" Version)
00:07:01

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Luscombe, Composer - Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

14
Feel Me (12" Instrumental)
00:05:06

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Luscombe, Composer - Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

15
Business Steps
00:04:27

Blancmange, Composer, MainArtist - Stephen Luscombe, Composer - Neil Arthur, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

16
Feel Me (US 12" Instrumental)
00:05:21

Blancmange, MainArtist - Neil Arthur, Composer - Ben Edwards, Composer

© 1982 London Records Ltd ℗ 1982 London Music Stream Ltd. LC77554

Album review

Blancmange's first album, 1982's Happy Families, yielded the minor radio hit "Living on the Ceiling," which also received a good deal of attention from early MTV. Though Happy Families can accurately be described as techno-pop, it's techno-pop with a modicum of taste and sophistication, putting it more in the ballpark of genre pioneers like OMD and Yazoo than of annoying '80s anachronisms like Kajagoogoo or EBN-OZN. Neil Arthur's lyrics are interesting enough to reward close listening, and his Bowie-esque voice, while somewhat limited, serves the material well. The sound of Happy Families is built largely around synthesizers, played by Arthur and partner Stephen Luscombe. The duo have a knack for catchy basslines and drum programming, on top of which they strategically deploy guitars, Eastern instrumentation, and female backing vocals. Particular highlights include "I Can't Explain" (not the Who song), "Feel Me," "Sad Day," and "God's Kitchen."

© Bill Cassel /TiVo

About the album

Distinctions:

Improve album information

Qobuz logo Why buy on Qobuz...

On sale now...

The Studio Albums 2009 – 2018

Mark Knopfler

Money For Nothing

Dire Straits

Money For Nothing Dire Straits

Brothers In Arms

Dire Straits

Brothers In Arms Dire Straits

Live 1978 - 1992

Dire Straits

Live 1978 - 1992 Dire Straits
More on Qobuz
By Blancmange

Private View

Blancmange

Private View Blancmange

Happy Families

Blancmange

Happy Families Blancmange

Mange Tout

Blancmange

Mange Tout Blancmange

Everything Is Connected

Blancmange

Mange Tout

Blancmange

Mange Tout Blancmange
You may also like...

Wall Of Eyes

The Smile

Wall Of Eyes The Smile

All Born Screaming

St. Vincent

All Born Screaming St. Vincent

Born To Die

Lana Del Rey

Born To Die Lana Del Rey

In Times New Roman...

Queens Of The Stone Age

In Times New Roman... Queens Of The Stone Age

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?

Billie Eilish