So Red The Rose - Arcadia

...Herbie Hancock, Dave Gilmour - so I went looking to see what their music was like...

I have since wandered far from the mainstream in musical taste, but this was the first step away from that well-trodden path.

Best listened to in a darkened room, headphones on and the volume up loud. Lie down, close your eyes, and really _listen_ to the full depth of sound.

Tracks:

Side A

...
...a tense dark feel. It has somehow become inextricably entwined with memories of a science fiction book I was reading at the time it came out - something to do with the half-heard snatches of voices in the background that dot this track. The voiceover in the middle is spoken by Grace Jones.

Keep Me In The Dark
The weakest track, in my opinion. Unlike the others, this is not an above average song to start with, and even the production ... more

Arcadia was a spin-off from Duran Duran.
Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes and Roger Taylor working together whilst the others worked on Power Station.

As a Durannie, I of course immediately started begging my parents to buy this the second it was released. Unwrapped my Xmas pressies - yes! a copy! - put it on the turntable and give it a listen...

... and it didn't leave my turntable again for OVER A YEAR.

This album opened my eyes to music beyond the top 10.

Deep intricate layers of sound...
Prog Rock influences...
Credits to artists I barely knew of: Herbie Hancock, Dave Gilmour - so I went looking to see what their music was like...

I have since wandered far from the mainstream in musical taste, but this was the first step away from that well-trodden path.

Best listened to in a darkened room, headphones on and the volume up loud. Lie down, close your eyes, and really listen to the full depth of sound.

Tracks:

Side A

Election Day
The first single from the album, with a tense dark feel. It has somehow become inextricably entwined with memories of a science fiction book I was reading at the time it came out - something to do with the half-heard snatches of voices in the background that dot this track. The voiceover in the middle is spoken by Grace Jones.

Keep Me In The Dark
The weakest track, in my opinion. Unlike the others, this is not an above average song to start with, and even the production values cannot elevate it above that fact.

Goodbye Is Forever
A well-written simple song let down by a rather poor arrangement. This is begging for someone, anyone, to do a cover version, just to do full justice to the song!

The Flame
Another song that was released as a single. This is a great song with a Spanish influence - though I now prefer the livelier feel of the remix on the 12 inch single to the original album version.

Missing
A subtle, understated ghost story - fading into a summer thunderstorm. Shivers up the spine.

Side B

Rose Arcana
Unfortunately, this instrumental track was trimmed to under a minute in order to fit the album onto an LP! The full track appears as a b-side to the single of "The Promise".

The Promise
This is probably the best track on the album, and features performances from Herbie Hancock and Sting. It is also the longest track on the album at just under 7 and a half minutes. "Heaven hide your eyes - Heaven's eyes will never dry". Heaven indeed.

El Diablo
Another vaguely Spanish-sounding track, complete with touches of acoustic guitar. Not quite as serious lyrically as the other tracks, but still very listenable.

Lady Ice
A brittle clashing of icebergs, distant sparkling chimes and an oboe set the tone for this track. A stunning conclusion to a wonderful album.
 

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