Unfurnished Rooms

Last updated
Unfurnished Rooms
Blancmange Unfurnished Rooms 2017 Album Cover.jpg
Studio album by
Blancmange
Released29 September 2017 [1]
Length48:57
Label Blanc Check Records
Producer Neil Arthur, Benge
Blancmange chronology
Commuter 23
(2016)		Unfurnished Rooms
(2017)		 Wanderlust
(2018)

Unfurnished Rooms is the ninth studio album by English band Blancmange, released in 2017. It was produced by Neil Arthur and Benge, and reached No. 40 on the UK Independent Albums Chart. [2]

Contents

The album was Blancmange's first release since First Light, a 2017 collaborative album between Arthur and Benge, released under the name Fader. [3] Speaking to MusicOMH in 2017, Arthur commented on Benge's involvement with Unfurnished Rooms: "It was fantastic when he said he was up for getting involved. I'd written the songs and a lot of instrumentation. I put my electronic noises on, and the idea was for Benge to replace the rhythm area." [4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Louder Than War Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Quietus favourable [6]
Record Collector Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]

Upon release, Michael Hann of The Quietus described the album as "pleasing", adding: "...as if Blancmange have journeyed back to the early 1980s and taken a different turning". [6] Paul Scott-Bates of Louder Than War summarised the album as "clever". He said: "It sees Neil Arthur on top form and putting together a listening experience that has taken thought, passion and a great deal of bravery." [5] D Foist of Record Collector wrote: "Unfurnished Rooms still has the synthpop undercarriage, but feels more like an assured indie collection than anything else. A hint of glam pokes through here and there, but also a good dose of the stodgier end of Depeche Mode's output." [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neil Arthur.

No.TitleLength
1."Unfurnished Rooms"4:46
2."We Are the Chemicals"5:16
3."Share It Out"4:11
4."What's The Time?"4:28
5."Wiping the Chair"4:34
6."Anna Dine"3:46
7."In December"4:48
8."Old Friends"5:27
9."Gratitude"3:37
10."Don't Get Me Wrong"8:09

Chart performance

Chart (2017)Peak
position
UK Independent Albums Chart [2] 40

Personnel

Other

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References

  1. ↑ "Unfurnished Rooms - Blancmange | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  2. 1 2 "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  3. ↑ "– Unfurnished Rooms". Blancmange. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  4. ↑ "Blancmange: "People want wall to wall music. Never mind the chords, feel the width..." - Interview | Interviews". 16 September 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Blancmange: Unfurnished Rooms - album review". Louder Than War. 2017-09-13. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  6. 1 2 "Reviews | Blancmange". The Quietus. 2017-09-26. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
  7. 1 2 "Unfurnished Rooms - Record Collector Magazine". Recordcollectormag.com. Retrieved 2018-10-24.
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