VIA PRESS RELEASE | UK synth-pop outfit Blancmange’s first three studio albums: Happy Families (1982), Mange Tout (1984) and Believe You Me (1985) are to be reissued by London Records on LP and CD, revisiting a landmark period in the history of British electronic pop. Each album features freshly restored artwork and will be available on vinyl (new 2026 vinyl cuts, faithfully following the original track listings), and on CD, each featuring bonus tracks including B-sides, extended versions and remixes.
Originally released within a remarkably prolific run of four years, the three first Blancmange albums capture Neil Arthur and Stephen Luscombe at their most inventive, combining infectious synth-pop melodies with restless experimentation, distinctive rhythms and influences that reached well beyond the conventions of mainstream pop, and would go on to inspire a slew of artists including the likes of Moby, John Grant, and Honey Dijon.
Blancmange signed with London Records in February 1982 and, with their first flush of early global success of “Living On The Ceiling,” embarked on one of the great Imperial Phases of synth-pop. Their singles were Radio One hits secretly nourished by the likes of Can and Captain Beefheart, buoyed by off-the-wall videos and wrapped up in surreal sleeve iconography.
Described by Classic Pop as “a fine record featuring razor-sharp production, whose impressiveness only improves with age,” 1982’sHappy Families is reissued on transparent orange vinyl. The CD version features studio B-sides, some BBC session tracks and contemporary remixes of “Living On The Ceiling” by Roman Flügel and Richard Norris, both available on CD for the first time.
Judging by the Punky Meadows look-alike on the cover of their 1986 debut and the twin sister of Gene Simmons on their second, these Mechanicsburg chest waxers couldn’t decide whether they wanted to be Angel or Kiss, so they went ahead and bested both of ‘em. Glam metal idols in the days before Kurt Cobain placed former hairdresser Rikki Rockett’s skyscraper ‘do on the endangered species list, Poison packed enough hair to stuff a mattress into their metal and by so doing lubed the loins of a million girls itching to steal their makeup.
Edinburgh, UK | 6 of the best record shops to visit in Edinburgh this weekend: Edinburgh has a buzzing independent record shop scene, offering music lovers the chance to explore everything from classic rock and soul to jazz, punk, electronic music and the latest releases. One of the joys of visiting independent record shops is the experience of browsing through crates of vinyl, discovering forgotten albums and stumbling across unexpected treasures. Whether you’re searching for a rare first pressing, a favourite album from your youth or something completely new, each shop has its own character, specialist knowledge and carefully curated selection. Here are 
Newcastle, UK | Newcastle vinyl store ‘trying to find a way forward’ as store at risk of closing: The record store moved out of the city centre due to rising costs. A recent post from a Newcastle record store has drawn attention online. Beyond Vinyl, located in the John Marley Centre near Denton, has had a tricky few months trying to stay afloat. The post to the store’s Facebook page said: “I’ve spent months trying to work out how we keep Beyond Vinyl going as a physical shop. I think it’s time I shared where we’re at and what I’m trying to do about it.” The details of the difficulty include supplier debt from Record Store Day, a day meant to increase profits for independent record stores, but that can often lead to crowd surges for only one day a year. However, day-to-day costs have played a large part in 
Heavy on covers and by extension lacking in gestures toward originality, the ’64-’66-era Moody Blues are unlikely to be many people’s (I’ll stop short of saying anybody’s) most beloved component in the British Invasion. In fact, talk of the group today reliably focuses on the post-Denny Laine/Clint Warwick lineup, which saw new members John Lodge and Justin Hayward helping to transmogrify the Moodies into one of the leading, if artistically lesser, examples of Symphonic Rock. I won’t sully the Prog genre with an inapt association since there was hardly anything progressive about The Moody Blues Mk 2.
Tempe, AZ | This new store brings punk culture back to Tempe. Here’s a look: The newly opened 45 Revolutions aims to revive a piece of Tempe’s music culture. Stepping into 45 Revolutions in Tempe is like diving head-first into a mosh pit of punk culture. Almost every inch of the newly opened 1,100-square-foot store tucked into the armpit of a University Drive strip mall is slammed with apparell and paraphernalia from the genre. Record bins contain LPs from bands like Stiff Little Fingers and Blitz. Shelves are stocked with pins and patches. Elsewhere, racks display black-and-white fanzines, T-shirts and books. The shop is the brainchild of locals Brian Paulson and Taylor McKissick, who aim to give the Valley something that’s more rare than a Fugazi tour: a store 
Manhattan, KS | Sisters of Sound: More than the music. For over 2 decades, the Cunnick sisters have turned their love for music into an Aggieville staple. Among Aggieville’s bars, restaurants and college nightlife sits a shop playing a different kind of music. For nearly 22 years, Sisters of Sound Records has kept Manhattan in tune, one record at a time. “We’re not a restaurant, we’re not a bar, we’re kind of a shop of misfit toys,” Sarah Cunnick, Sisters of Sound co-owner, said. “We’re different than everybody else, but we’re also kind of the same. We’re all selling something.” Sarah and her sister, Leah, grew up in McPherson, Kansas, before they made their way to Manhattan for college. 
