Neil Arthur illustrates and exemplifies how a passion for music and a relentless creative energy has directly resulted in his artistic longevity and joyous cascade of albums from Blancmange and his many other projects. He tells it to lifelong fan Fenner Pearson in an open and warm interview. Just how we like it.
Neil Arthur formed Blancmange with Stephen Luscombe in 1979. Funded by a friend’s tax rebate, they released their first EP ‘Irene and Mavis’ in 1980, which led to them appearing on Stevo’s seminal compilation ‘Some Bizarre’ in 1981. This is turn resulted in a record deal with London records, and their first album, ‘Happy Families’ in 1982.
They are undoubtedly best known for their breakthrough single, ‘Living On The Ceiling’, which remains a stalwart of eighties compilations and nostalgia nights. It’s a song in which Blancmange’s DNA is laid bare: quirky, imaginative pop music, propelled along by Arthur’s compelling vocals and idiosyncratic lyrics. More hits came with singles such as ‘Waves’, ‘Blind Vision’, and ‘Don’t Tell Me’, and two further hit albums, ‘Mange Tout’ and ‘Believe You Me’.
At this point the duo split amicably for twenty-five years, during which time Arthur worked on television and film music, before the pair reformed for 2011’s ‘Blanc Burn’. It was after this album that Luscombe retired from the band for good, due to his health, but an enthusiasm for Blancmange was rekindled within Arthur, who has released a further twelve albums under that name since 2015, as well as three albums with Benge, as Fader, and one with Jez Bernholz, as Near Future.
In this episode of The Art Of Longevity, Fenner Pearson chats to Neil Arthur about his writing process and how he works on the Blancmange albums, with Benge acting as his foil and producer, and his collaborations with Fader and Near Future. Arthur touches on the number of ideas “buzzing and fizzing” around his head that has led to him recording sixteen albums in eight years. This in turn provides an interesting insight into the whole process of releasing an album in 2022 compared with 1982!
He also talks about his formative musical experiences – his father’s accordion playing and listening to his older sister’s music collection – and the bands he listened to in his teens, as well as his joy at playing live with his own son, Joe, who records under the name Kincaid.
Perhaps what comes across most clearly is Arthur’s creative energy, from the studio where he records and develops his ideas, through the time spent working with Benge in the latter’s studio, right up to his enduring enjoyment of playing live, including his current tour where he performs with the enthusiasm and energy of someone who obviously relishes a live audience.
And there is no sense that Arthur is slowing down: he is in the process of mixing completed albums with Near Future and a covers album with Vince Clarke, as well a new collaboration with Liam Hutton and Finlay Shakespeare as The Remainder, and a new Fader album. On top of that, he will be performing at a number of festivals next year.
We selfishly suggest that Ben Robinson of bluedot gets Neil Arthur on the phone…
Blancmange’s latest album Private View is out now
Fenner Pearson is presenter of Electronic Ears. He also hosted Gary Numan on The Art of Longevity.