the sound of arrows - voyage

sound of arrows - voyage



the sound of arrows (of whom i have posted previously) released their album, voyage. what's it like? it's like vangelis (composer of the blade runner soundtrack) called the pet shop boys and said, "let's have a rave while standing in line at disney's space mountain!"

at first i was hesitant to put the PSB reference in there, because they totally do not give off the same arty-pretentious vibe (sarcastically or not); but it's undeniable that the influence is there. and i hear more of a mid-70's synth feel, carried off very successfully.

since hearing "into the clouds" several months ago, i've been eager to get this album...the slow buildup has been worth the wait. and now, i highly recommend it.

(oh, and i didn't mention: one track actually samples a flock of seagulls single, "the more you live, the more you love".)

ARC: awesome record cover 1

perhaps my favorite record album cover i've ever owned. early releases by the band were designed by the same guy, pete watson, for several years. his work was hit-and-miss, but when he hit, he hit well.

on listen, watson captured the seagulls' sci-fi theme better than their music did at this point, with what appears to be simply a plastic mannequin face and some circuit boards. and though the fashion magazine typography was trending out by now, it still worked here.

the band portraits for the back cover aren't bad, either, and in fact have become pretty much the remaining go-to images for the band.

the greatest album of all time?

when i was in college, k-tel records released a collection called, "the beat: soundwave of the 80's", which, surprisingly, encapsulated the oncoming new wave rather well:


A Flock of Seagulls - I Ran (So Far Away)
Kim Wilde - Kids In America
Haircut One Hundred - Love Plus One
Sparks - I Predict
Split Enz - I Got You
Graham Parker - You Hit The Spot
The Waitresses - I Know What Boys Like
The GoGo's - We Got The Beat
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy
Duran Duran - Girls On Film
Thompson Twins - In The Name Of Love
Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Joan Of Arc
Billy Idol - Hot In The City

nobody on radio or tv was playing this stuff...for a young student stuck in utah, this collection was something of a lifeline.

seagulls

dear project leader:

this alien has been accused of being an unrepentant fan of early flock of seagulls. this alien will not dignify that libelous accusation with a response. but hopes you enjoy the following:



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