Born on June 15: Neil Arthur (Blancmange), the most distinctive voice in British Synthpop

Born in 1958 in Darwen, Lancashire (England), he's still known today as the singer of Blancmange.

Formed in the early 80s with Stephen Luscombe, the duo chose a name for their band that sounds French but is actually a typically English dessert: blancmange is a gelatinous pudding made from milk and cornflour. It's most often white, of course, but can also be pink or even brightly coloured.

Blancmange, Neil and Stephen's band, quickly made a name for themselves with their unique blend of electronic pop, exotic sounds at times reminiscent of India, and often introspective lyrics. Featured on the album "Happy Families" (1982), their first big hit "Living On The Ceiling" shot them to the top of the UK charts. This catchy chorus remains a major highlight of their concerts, although this debut album also boasts many memorable tracks like "Feel Me", "Waves" and "I Can’t Explain". “We were just trying to do something different, a bit odd perhaps, but catchy. The synth wasn’t really a deliberate choice, it was just what we had to hand!” Neil recalled in "The Quietus" in 2015.

After two truly iconic British synthpop albums—"Happy Families," already mentioned, and "Mange Tout" in 1984 (as well as the less successful "Believe You Me" in 1985)—the band split up. Neil Arthur continued working in music, composing for films, television, and pursuing a fairly low-key solo career with releases like the album "Suitcase" (1994).

Blancmange has repeatedly risen from the ashes, notably in 2011, when they recorded their fourth album "Blanc Burn"—twenty-six years after the previous release! However, Stephen Luscombe soon had to bow out due to declining health.

Today, Neil is at the helm alone, but regularly collaborates with various musicians, such as Benge in his side project Fader. Mixing vintage synthesisers with contemporary inspiration and always deeply personal writing, he continues to release new albums, like the atmospheric "Computer 23" in 2013. “I never wanted to just recreate what we did in the 80s. I hope I can always express something different, maybe even something original,” he told the specialist magazine "Electronic Sound" in 2020.

Blancmange is touring this summer throughout the UK and Ireland with The Human League.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart - Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: Stephen Luscombe (left) and Neil Arthur (right) of Blancmange backstage at a TV show in Brussels (Belgium) in 1982.