Doublespeak (Vince Clarke / Neil Arthur / Benge)-  release their self-titled debut album + focus track ‘Richard!’

As a wave of media coverage for Doublespeak proves, anticipation for a union between Vince Clarke (Erasure), Neil Arthur(Blancmange) and Benge would be immense – and all the more so given the project sees them reimagine and renew songs spanning four decades via a timeless prism of gleaming analogue electronica. That excitement is now fully realised as Doublespeak today release their self-titled debut album via London Records. 

The diversity of the album can be seen by its two very different preview singles. First was a contemporary take on early Mute Records release, Fad Gadget’s ‘Back To The Nature’, which they followed by reworking David Essex’s boundary-breaking‘Rock On’ in a style both fresh and invigorating.

Collectively the album is split almost evenly between songs from the post-punk netherworld brought blinking into the light and pop radio monsters ushered back down a dark stairway into the club. With new highlights ranging from The Carpenters’ ‘Goodbye To Love’ remade as an analogue torch song to the curtain call closer ‘End Credits’ (originally by Laptop), the resulting record amounts to a shadow autobiography of the trio’s musical education.

Vince Clarke summarises their approach to the material: “I knew so little about some of these songs that they were like demos to me. They felt like brilliant new songs that you want to get your hands on. I’ve had people do cover versions of my songs and honestly there’s no better tribute. So that’s what we wanted to do here.”

The album’s focus track is a beautiful and humane reading of a little-known song called ‘Richard!’ by ex-Brothers In Soundmember Ed Dowie. While the original is electronic minimalism akin to a lost 1981 Some Bizzare cut, Doublespeak turn up the warmth in a hitherto unheralded gem.

Benge says, “You can hear Ed Dowie’s spirit through all his music. It’s just got this incredible honesty and openness about it, not just through the lyrics but through the music itself and the way he performs it. This is a fantastic song with bonkers lyrics. ‘Leicester is not very far’?”

Neil Arthur adds, “I saw him play a gig at our local pub in Stroud and I was so blown away that I went to see him again and introduced myself. We got chatting, exchanged a few messages. There’s just something about this song, a haunting and unique character. I think he’s an amazing artist.”

Doublespeak’s official store offers physical formats of the album on green ripple vinyl, black vinyl and CD.