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Visage - Hearts and Knives

PostPosted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:56 am
by ippudo
After revealing the new line-up in January (it includes Ex-Ultravox Robin Simon and Steve Barnacle from the "Beat Boy" era), the first new Visage album after 29 years was finally released on Monday. The press kit proudly emphasises that "no soft synths" were used, only vintage analogue gear from before 1985, and that Strange's voice wasn't autotuned. The result sounds like it comes straight from the "Anvil" sessions, which is a good thing IMO. For the most part, the songs (co-written with the likes of Ex-Simple Mind Mick MacNeil, Dave Formula and Youth) are very decent too:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HnzGa1qWbR4

PostPosted: Fri May 24, 2013 9:46 am
by magnum
ok...........that new single aint bad,but its not vintage 1st album visage either,will go even further and say its better than the beat boy/strange cruise era.

http://magnum71mixes.blogspot.co.uk/
http://soundcloud.com/magnum71

http://soundcloud.com/magnum1971

http://soundcloud.com/71magnum

"Gregg is sat right down waiting for the gift of SOUND and vision - coz he can't tell the difference between different mixes"

PostPosted: Fri May 24, 2013 8:46 pm
by ippudo
It's definitely closer in sound to the second album, "The Anvil", which is a bit darker, funkier and more aggressive, something I prefer. There are a few tracks that are a little too lightweight IMO ("Dreamer I Know" and "Hidden Sign"). For the single version of "Shameless Fashion", I think they should have used an edit of the "extended remix" of "Shameless Fashion", which adds some sax and has more prominent bass. But yes, overall the new one is quite an improvement over "Beat Boy" and the Strange Cruise material. Perhaps not a return to form, but still a pleasant surprise, especially when compared to the last Ultravox album.

PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2013 12:00 am
by Sensoria

PostPosted: Sat May 25, 2013 12:09 am
by ippudo
Aargh! Thanks, Sensoria [:I] Must have done something wrong as "Search" didn't bring up your thread. Maybe someone could close mine or join the two...

PostPosted: Mon May 27, 2013 6:50 pm
by Sensoria
[quote][i]Originally posted by ippudo[/i]
<br>Aargh! Thanks, Sensoria [:I] Must have done something wrong as "Search" didn't bring up your thread. Maybe someone could close mine or join the two...
[/quote]

Nevermind, ippudo matey! [:)]

PostPosted: Thu May 30, 2013 1:58 pm
by Sean
Definitely agree with Ippudo's review. The album overall is well done and is good but none of the songs has really captured my attention yet. "Shameless Fashion" is definitely the catchiest and most likely why they chose it for their first single. Will continue to listen to see if I missed something but happy to see Steve Strange & Visage's return.

PostPosted: Fri May 31, 2013 2:57 am
by omar
Got the cd as well . Loved it at first listen. She's Electric should be considered for the third single .

PostPosted: Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:07 pm
by zkwaywow
That's great,I agree with your thought.All things are difficult before they are easy.

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PostPosted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 11:35 pm
by InvisibleMan
Good album! First Johnny Hates Jazz with their comeback, and now Visage... good stuff! [:D]

PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:53 pm
by pinkyblue82
The US version on Pylon Records has Shameless Fashion (Extended Version) as a bonus track. Glad I waited.

PostPosted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:48 pm
by discoginfo
A new single Dreamer I Know is coming out 22 July:
http://amzn.to/13JdkqK

It includes the the new track "Digital Age" (hmm does that title sound early 80s.... yeah it does) /JW
www.discog.info/visage.html
www.jonaswarstad.com

PostPosted: Mon Sep 16, 2013 2:38 am
by postpunkmonk
[quote]still a pleasant surprise, especially when compared to the last Ultravox album.
[/quote]

You said a mouthful, there! It's a work of genius compared to the last Ultravox album! But even invoking that comparison, it's been my favorite album of the year. Robin Simon pulls me into these songs and, pound for pound, the material works for me.

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PostPosted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 11:56 am
by hardis
For the single version of "Shameless Fashion", I think they should have used an edit of the "extended remix" of "Shameless Fashion", which adds some sax and has more prominent bass.

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PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 10:15 pm
by Neil Kelly
Why is it that the last comment i can see is 23/9/13 yet it's showing on main page as last comment 05/10/13? Done this to me for two days now. Not even offering me a second page