Arcadia-So Red The Rose

I personally think anyone with an interest in 80's pop should definitely let there ears get warped by the shameless extravagance displayed on this album.
The story goes Duran Duran were at breaking point after the wild success of the first three albums (Duran Duran, Rio, Seven and the Ragged Tiger), with two of the Taylor's (John and Andy) on the decline due to mass cocaine abuse and Simon LeBon's infamous bum-note during the 1985 Live Aid; the troupe decided to disband and go their own ways.
Duran Duran split in half (literally) with John and Andy joining Robert Palmer forming The Power Station and Simon and Nick Rhodes forming Arcadia. Roger Taylor hurt by the split, left the music scene completely.
Arcadia took the avant garde of Duran Duran and went crazy with power (and EMI's budget) making one of the most expensive albums ever made (it reportedly cost over $7,000,000 in mid-1980's money). With all of that aside there are plenty of guest appearances of the likes of Sting, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Grace Jones and Herbie Hancock.
The album itself wasn't very accessible to the general public making the album flop, therefore losing support from EMI and destroying any possibility of Arcadia being an ongoing band. This makes So Red The Rose a one off. A very special one off.
The album from start to finish is densely layered with all types of textures and melodies and Simon Lebon's vocals shine like never before. Nick Rhodes in this instance is probably at par with Brian Eno in terms of sound production and experimenting. David Gilmour's contribution to "The Promise" is brilliant, he fills the track with his trade mark soaring lead guitar. "Goodbye is forever", Election Day", "Lady Ice" are other stand out tracks to a stand out album that time has forgotten.
I suggest you listen to this album all the way through with head phones so you wont miss the instrumental layering and the dark, brooding, sexy vibe it has about it. Very Ahead of its time.

David Bowie: Pin Ups

I have have just run through David Bowie's infamous Pin Up's; the follow up to Aladdin Sane. I have previously listened to it with the knowledge that its a largely ignored album, either by Bowie hard cores or by Bowie passer by's. It's also been rained shit on by critics of recent times and the critics of the albums first release. The first few times I've run this through I honestly thought nothing of it with the very harsh comments laid upon it fresh in my mind. Let me tell you this Bowie hardcore or Bowie passer by; This is not an album to ignore or hate.
This is essentially a cover album of Bowie's influences through out the music scene of the 60's and early 70's. I now see this album as a collection of lovingly reworked songs; reworked by a man who really digs music. Although it would've seemed illogical to cover any of these songs in 1973, they make perfect sense. Why-fucking-not cover your favorite bands?
My guess is after the break though success of Aladdin Sane the music public were chasing after another Aladdin Sane, but seriously give the cat a chance.
Stand out songs include The Kink's "Where have all the good times gone", Pink Floyd's "See Emily Play", The Easy Beats "Friday on my mind". There is also B-side that's released on a special edition of Pin ups Jaques Brel's "Port of Amsterdam" which is beautifully perfect and minimalist, it most certainly deserves a place on the album.

All in all its a finely crafted album that deserves to be listened to all the way through. Open ya fucken ears.

Lots of love. And happy listening.

Patrick the Pheasant.