Blancmange

Having suffered somewhat of a sophomore jinx with Mange Tout, Blancmange wisely adjusted their approach for their third release. Believe You Me is leaner, subtler, and more organic, without straying too far from their established sound. The Eastern instrumentation is de-emphasized in favor of more string and woodwind sounds. Neil Arthur's vocals are stronger, and his and Stephen Luscombe's songwriting is more focused. The result might best be described as "mature techno-pop," and perhaps predictably, it failed to find an audience, especially in the U.S. Blancmange disbanded not long after. With this in mind, it's not hard to find a vein of regret running throughout Believe You Me: Song titles include "Lose Your Love," "No Wonder They Never Made It Back!" and "Why Don't They Leave Things Alone?," the loveliest, saddest ballad Blancmange ever recorded. Even the poppier tracks, like "22339" and "Believe," are driven by an undercurrent of apprehension. Believe You Me wraps up with a couple of bittersweet instrumentals, bringing Blancmange's recording career to a close on a peaceful note. [Edsel's 2008 edition included four bonus tracks.] ~ Bill Cassel, All Music Guide