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Another song I didn't really know until I got this album, and a case of a one-off appearance that isn't the act's biggest hit. Admittedly, their signature hit 'Living On The Ceiling' predates the Now series and this is their second most successful 45, the lead single from second album Mange Tout.
As I think the album title suggests, Blancmange didn't seem to take themselves as seriously as other synthpop duos of the era (or of the present day for that matter), lacking the rather self-important stance of most of their contemporaries. That and their interest in non-Western percussion and rhythms gives this more entertainment value than a lot of the other music it could be compared to. Perhaps the closest resemblance is to Vince Clarke-era Depeche Mode, thanks to the combination of chirpy melody and Neil Arthur's low-pitched voice, although it lacks the pomposity of even early DM; I suppose to an extent it sets a precedent for Erasure. Though the song itself is somewhat lightweight (and in some ways a pastiche of their first hit) it's one of the most enjoyable yet, and I promise I'm not just saying that because they apparently formed here in Harrow.
Available on: Second Helpings - Best Of Blancmange
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