Visage: album reviews and ratings

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Reviews & Recommendations

	Visage (1978-1984)

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Band members: Steve Strange, Rusty Egan, Midge Ure (Ultravox), Billy Curie (Ultravox), Dave Formula (Magazine), John McGeogh (Magazine), Barry Adamson (Magazine).

"The roots of Visage came about in late 1978 when Ure and Strange recorded a version of the old Zager And Evans hit 'In The Year 2525' as a demo for EMI Records, but had it turned down. (...) Polydor Records picked up on the band and were rewarded with a massive hit in 'Fade To Grey', which fitted in with the burgeoning synthesizer pop scene of the early 80s (New Romanticism). Although all of the band had other commitments, Visagemade a brief effort to continue their existence. The third single, 'Mind Of A Toy', with its memorable Godley And Creme- produced video (their first), was a Top 20 hit but subsequent singles were released at greater and greater intervals and did increasingly less well. The band fizzled out in the mid-80s, with Strange forming Strange Cruise with Wendy Wu, and his collaborators returning to their main bands."

Muse, via Yahoo! music

"While Bowie may have unknowingly and unwillingly begun a small movement called the New Romantics, it was Visage that manifested the sound into a true art form that would later influence and shape bands like Spandau Ballet, Freur, Duran Duran, and many others. In direct opposition and philosophy to Punk, New Romantics cleaned up for a much softer and lush lifestyle of clubbing and frocking about. Clothes, makeup and midnight kisses were essential. The sound blended synths, disco, humor and every band was in desparate need of masquerading and declaring their unique image. Visage started as a participation or project band where various members from other bands needed new music for the infamous Blitz Club where romos hung out into the night. Kraftwerk and Bowie could only be played so long. The lineup included frontman and cult-figure Steve Strange who possessed a chameleon-like charm of the most bizarre and magazine covered looks imaginable. Then Visage did what they never expected, they sold records. The ultimate romo band was born."

www.inthe80s.com

Visage Discography - Album / CD Reviews

1980: Visage
"After the huge success of 'Fade to Grey'(a single that is rightfully regarded as a sort of anthem for the New Romantics of the early eighties), this self-titled album arrived and achieved similar status. It is not hard to see why. Steve Strange's fey vocals over banks and banks of synthesisers, rhythm machines and guitars, coupled with the songwriting talents of Ultravox's Midge Ure and Magazine's Dave Formula, produced a short-lived euphoria that challenged Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet. While Visage's music was undoubtedly more atmospheric and club-based, the others were prettier. After three albums, Visage faded away. But songs like 'The Dancer', 'Visa-Age' and 'Mind of a Toy' ensure that this is possibly Visage's finest hour. For people who like synthesisers to BE synthesisers (and not disguised as other things), then Visage are highly recommended, this album especially so."

-- NA Parry, via amazon.com

½ 1982: The Anvil
"This was the second of three albums by Steve Strange's Visage. After this, Midge Ure departed and so did the band's success. Perhaps the two events are linked. Whatever; this is a fine slice of early eighties New Romanticism, it captures perfectly the fusion between robotic electronics and the outrageous 'clubby' scene of the time, when boys were girls and we were all a lot younger. The classic 'Damned Don't Cry' single is the best of the bunch, a haunting tune with a strange melancholy to it, but 'The Horseman', with it's funky guitar work comes a close second. The least successful track might well be 'Night Train', which doesn't have the ethereal quality to it that the others possess. After this, came the 'Beat Boy' album and obscurity for Steve Strange. "

-- NA Parry, via amazon.com

½ 1983: Fade to Grey - The singles collection
"It's a collection of Visage's greatest hits, featuring Midge Ure. Visage began as a spawn of the London punk scene of 1978, which created a new style of club music. The scene? The New Romantics, which centered around an ecclectic group of art students, hairdressers and fashion designers and bridged the gap between New Wave and the reactionary vision of punk. The music of Visage was described by band members as being Futuristic. "

about.com, 80s music

¼ 1984: Beat Boy
Visage's last and weakest album. Includes the hit song Love Glove.

½ 1993: The Best of Visage: Fade to Grey- the singles collection (re-issue) :
THE ultimate collection of Visagesongs, capturing all their club hits. It's a re-issue of 'Fade To Grey - the singles collection' released in 1983, with two bonus tracks: Love Glove from Beat Boy and the 1993 Bassheads 7" edit remix of Fade To Grey.

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