Founders of the New Romantic movement in the 1980s, Visage, fronted by the enigmatic Steve Strange, were one of a number of bands who grew to prominence at London's notorious Blitz Club : known as "the cradle of the New Romantic movement".
Following a long hiatus, ended last year by their first album in almost 30 years, Visage are back once again with a new album this winter. A spin on the traditional "Greatest Hits" album, the new LP "Orchestral" sees the band performing new versions of their most loved songs backed by the likes of the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, the Czech Synthosynphonica Orchestra and others.
The incredible new arrangements, adding in layers of strings, woodwind, brass and percussion to give these great tracks a fresh spin, include a 7 minute orchestral version of breakthrough hit "Fade To Grey" set to be the lead single.
The idea for the album was inspired by an invitation to play alongside Czech Synthosynphonica Orchestra to close the World Ski Jumping Championships in March 2014. The success of that show and the new sound they created led Steve Strange and the rest of the band to pursue it further. The result is the album "Orchestral" : set for release this winter.
"Orchestral" follows the success of the 4th Visage album, "Hearts & Knives", released in 2013. Following five singles from the album, the band has soared back into the public consciousness with gigs around the world, taking their sound out of the studio and onto the stage for the first time. Reaction to their live show has been phenomenal, and the band have no plans to stop what they've started.
And with work now beginning on a follow up album of original songs, "Orchestral" is a chance to first look back on some of Visage's greatest tracks as you've never heard them before.
released December 15, 2014
Produced by John Bryan & Sare Havlicek. Orchestral arrangements by Armin Effenberger, Pete Whitfield, John Bryan & Michael Goodey. Performed by the Synthosymphonic Orchestra & the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.
Vocals by Steve Strange and Lauren Thomas.
Bass & keyboards: Steve Barnacle. Guitars: Robin Simon. Keyboards: Logan Sky.
Additional backing vocals: John Bryan, Sare Havlicek, Robin Lee, Karmen Havlicek, Anais
Laffouk & Jewel Robinson. Additional violin: Pete Whitfield. Additional keyboards: Sare Havlicek. Mixed by Sare Havlicek. Mastered by Yuri Dent. Cover photo by Peter Ashworth.
Makeup by Lara Himpelmann. Live photos by John Bryan. Artwork by Rich Elson.
www.therealvisage.com
www.stevestrang.org
www.augustday.net
www.johnbryan.info
www.sarehavlicek.com
The Dammed Don't Cry (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Midge Ure, Billy Curry and Dave Formula.
Published by Copyright Control.
Fade To Grey (Orchestral Version): Written by Midge Ure, Billy Curry and Chris Payne.
Published by Copyright Control & Warner Brother.
Dreamer I Know (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, John Bryan, Mick MacNeil, Arno Carstens and Martin Glover .
Published by Copyright Control.
Visage (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Midge Ure, Billy Curry, John McGeoch and Dave Formula.
Published by Copyright Control.
The Anvil (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Midge Ure, Billy Curry and Dave Formula.
Published by Copyright Control.
Never Enough (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Robin Simon, Sare Havlicek, John Bryan and Rich Mowatt.
Published by Copyright Control.
Pleasure Boys (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Billy Curry and Dave Formula.
Published by Copyright Control.
Hidden Sign (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Steve Barnacle, John Bryan, Sare Havlicek, Julie Scott and Rich Mowatt.
Published by Copyright Control.
Night Train (Orchestral Version): Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Midge Ure, Billy Curry and Dave Formula.
Published by Copyright Control.
Love Glove (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, Rusty Egan and Steve Barnacle.
Published by Copyright Control.
The Silence (Orchestral Version): Written by Steve Strange, John Bryan and James Grant.
Published by Dharma Songs / Copyright Control.
Steve Strange would like to thank:
all our loyal visage friends worldwide, my sister, Kyle, Connor, Amanda Lloyd, The Strangecrew Posse, Lara Himpelmann, Peter Ashworth, Heather Mccarthy, Mandy Stockton, Howard price, Pete Bassett, Polly & Vicky, Ellis Wayman, Tobi Kirsch, Rosemary Turner, Princess Julia, the doctors & nurses of the Princes of Wales NHS hospital, Midge Ure, Dave Formula, Rusty Egan, Barry Adamson, Billy Curry, John Mcgeoch (rip), Steve Norman, Martin Kemp, Boy George, my mum & my dear grandmother mrs G. Price.
(P) 2014 August Day Recordings
(C) 2014 August Day Recordings
