Blanket Of Secrecy - Ears Have Walls (1982) (LP) - €10,00

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Blanket of Secrecy (BoS) was a short-lived English new wave band formed in 1982. 

The band was notable for the fact that its band members, true to their band name, were never officially identified at the time - only the pseudonyms Tinker, Tailor and Soldier were disclosed to refer to the main members - as well as mention of Spy. 

This led to some speculation in the music press regarding the true identity of the members, with rumours that they might be the Attractions (Elvis Costello's backing band) and speculation that the lead singer was Jack Hues of Wang Chung. 

However, they were eventually revealed to be Peter Marsh (Tinker, the lead singer), Andy Howell (Tailor), Roger Bechirian (Soldier) and Phil McWalter (Spy) .

Their music was synth-pop, similar to their contemporaries A Flock of Seagulls, although comparisons to The Attractions were also made. 

The band's first LP was titled Walls Have Ears in the UK, and Ears Have Walls in the US. The album cover, ultimately to become an iconic classic, was designed by Barney Bubbles. The group can be seen in shadow on the album's back cover, in a photo by Brian Griffin, and in mostly obscured images on the cover of the single "Say You Will". 

 They are seen full-face, and much more clearly, in the video for "Say You Will". Released in 1982, the album and single received significant airplay on both sides of the Atlantic, featuring in the Tipperade in the Netherlands for four weeks. 

One of the finest pop albums of its time, Ears Have Walls remains one of many overlooked gems from the new wave era. This mysterious trio wrote pure and unabashed pop songs heavily influenced by the '60s and '70s and dressed them up in '80s clothing. 

Guitars float and shimmer above a synth foundation, allowing vocal harmonies (and some bits of brass) to roam freely in and out of each song. The haunting "Say You Will" is drop-dead gorgeous with its acoustic guitar riff and pained vocals. "Yo-Yo" could have been a massive hit with its classic hook bouncing around the room. 

"Remember Me and You," "Tell Me Baby" and "Love Me Too" contain all the elements that make pop music so enchanting and enticing. When Blanket of Secrecy get all gooey on ballads such as "Lovers," "Close to Me" and "Photograph," the effects are mesmerizing. An album to love and embrace your whole life through. 

Side A

A1.  Say You Will - 4:00

A2.  Young Hearts - 3:40

A3.  Love Me Too - 2:45

A4.  Remember Me And You - 3:22

A5.  Long Cool Glass - 3:35

A6.  Photograph - 4:43

Side B

B1.  Yo-Yo - 3:17

B2.  Close To Me - 4:08

B3.  Something I Don’t Need - 3:00

B4.  Tell Me Baby - 3:28

B5.  Lovers - 4:48

B6.  B.O.S. Theme - 3:23

Companies, etc.

• Distributed By – WEA Records Ltd.
• Manufactured By – Record Service GmbH
• Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Riviera Global Record Productions Ltd.
• Copyright © – F-Beat Records Ltd.
• Printed By – Druckhaus Maack KG
• Recorded At – Ampro Studios
• Recorded At – Rockfield Studios
• Mixed At – Rockfield Studios
• Engineered At – Ampro Studios
• Engineered At – Rockfield Studios
• Mastered At – Master Room

Credits

• Arranged By – Jack Hues (tracks: B5)
• Cover [Back] – Brian Griffin 
• Cover [Front] – Heeps Willard
• Directed By – Roger Bechirian
• Engineer – Paul Cobbold, Rob Keyloch
• Mastered By – Aaron Chakraverty
• Producer – Blanket Of Secrecy

Produced and directed by Roger Bechirian
Recorded at Ampro Studios and Rockfield Studios
Mixed at Rockfield
Assistant engineers, Rob Keyloch at Ampro and Paul Cobbold at Rockfield
Additional musicians:
Hogg – saxophone
Jack Hues – arrangements on "Lovers"
Originally mastered by Aaron Chakraverty at The Master Room
LP design – Heeps Willard (a pseudonym for Barney Bubbles)
Photography – Brian Griffin

Notes

Release: 1982

Format:  LP, Vinyl

Genre:   Synth-pop

Label:  WEA 

Catalog#  WEA 58720

Vinyl:  Goed (VG)

Cover:  Goed (VG)

Prijs: €10,00