Thursday, August 2, 2018

Album Review: Ascension by A Flock Of Seagulls

Dear Poptastic Readers,

Back in June we featured the new single "Space Age Love Song" from the English New Wave band A Flock Of Seagulls. The song isn't new, but it is new rerecording of the 1982 classic with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. Well, they've made a whole album with the orchestra and it is called Ascension.




Ascension is the first album from the band since 1995. The album sees all four original members returning: Mike, Paul, Frank, and Ali. They rerecorded their classics and added a new song as well. 




The album opens with the band's biggest hit "I Ran." Originally released in 1982, the went to #1 in Australia, #3 in France, #7 in New Zealand, #9 in the US, and #43 in the UK. The new version with the orchestra is epic. We are talking goosebumps!




"Modern Love Is Automatic" was originally the band's third single and it appeared on their self-titled debut album. The orchestra simply adds an element to the new version without feeling overbearing.




"Telecommunication" was the band's second single. We kind of wish the sound of this new version had been changed a bit more. Having said that, it takes awhile but the strings do end up shining as the track continues.




"Space Age Love Song" as we featured in June is simply amazing. It deserved to be a bigger hit. It went to #30 in the US and #34 in the UK. They were very smart to lead with this as the single from the new album. It is so well done. More goosebumps!


"Ascension" is the new song. It is short and sweet and doesn't contain any vocals.




"Wishing (I Had A Photograph Of You)" is probably their second-most popular song as it was the lead single from their second album Listen. It went to #1 in France, #6 in Ireland, #10 in the UK, and #26 in the US. The new orchestral version sounds great, especially the epic instrumental part at the end. The vocals are given a slightly different delivery at times. Very good.




"Nightmares" has always been a darker track of the band. Now with the orchestra involved, it sounds like it could be in scary movie.




"DNA" is an instrumental track that the band won a Grammy for in 1983. The added orchestra just makes it that much more amazing. This was on their self-titled debut album.




"Electrics" is a song of the band's second album Listen. We kind of forgot about this one, as it wasn't a single. But the new version is very nice and it is great track.




"Transfer Affection" is one of those songs that should have been a bigger hit (#22 in Ireland and #38 in the UK). Perhaps if it had had the orchestra back then, it might have been. We love the new version.




"The More You Live The More You Love" is fan favorite. Originally released in 1984, this was the lead single from their third album The Story Of A Young Heart. It went to #16 in The Netherlands, #26 in the UK, #56 in the US. The new version with the orchestra adds that wonderful extra touch.


"Man Made" is unusual closer to the album as this was also an album track from their first album. However, it ends up working perfectly as the album closer because there is a big instrumental part at the end that leaves the listener on a high.


Overall, this is a wonderful album that brings back such amazing memories of the band's music and celebrates it in the most euphoric way possible. Ascension is available on digital outlets everywhere. Buy your copy today! Have a listen here ...




Cheers then,

—Davearama

P.S. Check out these links ...


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