Visage - Hearts And Knives (2013)

Hearts and Knives is the fourth studio album by the British synth-pop band Visage. It was released on 20 May 2013 and was the band's first album of new material in 29 years

In January 2013, Visage announced their new line-up to consist of vocalist and founding member Steve Strange, bassist Steve Barnacle (who had worked with the band on their 1984 album Beat Boy), Robin Simon (former guitarist in Ultravox and Magazine) and Lauren Duvall on vocals. 

The band's official website confirmed that former Visage/Magazine keyboardist Dave Formula and former Simple Minds keyboardist Mick MacNeil have also contributed to the album.

They say what goes around comes around, and the new Visage album sounds like the past 30 years failed to happen. Steve Strange is back and Hearts And Knives is a supremely engaging diversion, a credible addition to Visage’s slender catalogue. 

With long-time contributor Steve Barnacle, original Ultravox! guitarist Robin Simon, new vocalist Lauren Duvall, guests Dave Formula from Magazine and original Simple Minds keyboard player Mick Macneill, the album was recorded on pre-1985 equipment. And, considering all that he’s been through, Strange’s voice still sounds relatively angelic.

No, not a reissue of one of the 80s new-romantic band's early albums, but their first album in 29 years. Led by the fittingly named Steve Strange - and most famous for 1980 track Fade To Grey - Visage were one of the pioneers of the scene that helped popularise bands like Ultravox, Duran Duran and ABC. 

Hearts and Knives is a solid album steeped in nostalgia. So don't expect any modern twist on music's new-romantic period. It sure starts out on high beam with Never Enough, which has a hint of a synth hook akin to Donna Summer's I Feel Love. 

Dreamer I Know is delightful, like a cross between Erasure and Spandau Ballet, and I Am Watching jaunts along in a dainty electro-disco style, and then branches out with everything from cheesy guitar wails to playful synth runs. The standout is the tougher, slightly twisted electronic rock of last track Diaries Of A Madman.

It’s all about referencing the past with an eye to the future. Lost In Static has the deftness of touch of Simple Minds’ best work, while Simon’s jangling guitar recalls the arpeggiated riffs of original Visage guitarist John McGeoch. She’s Electric even uses the same drum machine part that opened Fade To Grey and On We Go has the synth shudder of Vienna. With a sleeve by Peter Ashworth, this reunion album’s left nothing to chance. Hearts And Knives sounds as if it were the follow-up to The Anvil.

The make-up and "Fade to Grey"-style mask seen on the front cover were created by Lara Himpelmann, and the cover shot was taken by photographer Peter Ashworth, who supplied the black and white photograph that artist Iain Gillies utilized to paint the picture that was the cover of Visage's debut album in 1980. 

The new logo and graphics have been designed by The Nick Foot Studio.

Tracklist

1.  Never Enough - 4:02

      Written-By – John Bryan, Rich Mowatt, Robin Simon, Sare Havlicek, Steve Strange

2.  Shameless Fashion - 4:24

      Written-By – Ben Woods, John Bryan, Nigel Summers, Rich Mowatt, Robin Simon, Steve Strange

3.  She's Electric (Coming Around) - 3:45

      Written-By – John Bryan, Josh Legg, Kyle Petersen, Mick MacNeil, Steve Strange

4.  Hidden Sign - 5:30

      Written-By – John Bryan, Julie Scott, Rich Mowatt, Sare Havlicek, Steve Barnacle, Steve Strange

5. On We Go - 4:23

     Written-By – Guy Hatfield, John Bryan, John Graham, Robin Simon, Steve Strange

6.  Dreamer I Know - 3:41

      Written-By – Arno Carstens, John Bryan, Martin Glover, Mick MacNeil, Steve Strange

7.  Lost In Static - 5:07

      Written-By – Christian Kennerney, Greg Benns, John Bryan, Marco di Carlo, Robin Simon, Steve Strange

8.  I Am Watching - 4:09

      Written-By – John Bryan, John Graham, Robin Simon, Sare Havlicek, Steve Strange

9.  Diaries Of A Madman - 2:55

      Written-By – Dave Formula, Ross Tregenza, Steve Strange

10.  Breathe Life - 3:01

        Written-By – Steve Barnacle, Steve Strange

Companies, etc.

• Mastered At – The Control Room
• Published By – Dharma Songs
• Made By – EDC, Germany – 53263061

Credits

• Artwork – Nick Foot Studio
• Backing Vocals [Additional] – John Bryan
• Bass – Steve Barnacle
• Cover [Front Cover Mask], Other [Stylling & Make Up] – Lara Himpelmann
• Drums – Sare Havlicek, 'Wildcat' Will Blanchard
• Engineer [Additional] – AM, Chevy One, Martin Rushent, Mike Patto, OD Hunte, Paul Richard Simon, Rich Mowatt, Robin Lee, Robin Twelvetree, Shuta Shinoda, Will Dardelin
• Guitar – Robin Simon
• Guitar [Additional] – Nigel Summers (tracks: 2)
• Keyboards – Steve Barnacle
• Keyboards [Additional] – AM, Logan Sky, Mick MacNeil, Rich Mowatt, Sare Havlicek
• Mastered By – Yuri Dent
• Mixed By – Sare Havlicek
• Photography By [Band Portrait & Centrefold Picture] – David Levine 
• Photography By [Front Cover Photo] – Peter Ashworth
• Producer – John Bryan, Sare Havlicek
• Programmed By – Steve Barnacle
• Programmed By [Additional] – Logan Sky
• Programmed By [Additional] – AM, Mick MacNeil, Rich Mowatt, Sare Havlicek
• Vocals – Lauren Thomas, Steve Strange

Notes

Released:  May 20, 2013

Genre:  Electronic

Style:  New Wave, Synth-pop

Length:  41:03

Label - Blitz Club Records