THE LISTENING POOL - Still life (1994) for RYOGA and OMD fans

Country
UK
Genre:
Electro
Style:
Synth-Pop

Members:
Paul Humphreys - Vocals, Keyboards, Synths
Malcolm Holmes - Drums
Martin Cooper - Saxophone, Keyboards


















Tracklist:

01 Meant To Be
Paul Roberts (The Stranglers): backing vocals
02 Oil For The Lamps Of China
03 Follow Where You Go
04 Breathless
05 Somebody Somewhere
Paul Roberts singing lead vocals
06 Photograph Of You
07 Promised The World
08 Blue Africa
09 Still Life
10 Where Do We Go From Here
11 Wild Strawberries
12 Hand Me That Universe

Link to download:
http://rapidshare.de/files/25177645/the_listening_pool_-_still_life__post-omd__humphries_.rar.html

about the band:
A founding half of pioneering electro-pop band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Paul Humphreys left the team in 1990, taking two other band members -Mal Holmes and Martin Cooper- along with him to form the Listening Pool. They recorded one album ('Still Life') which sank without trace, and the project hasn't been heard from since (disbanded around 1996).
Humphreys later formed the project OneTwo.


"If anything, this album from the "other 3" members of OMD proves that the vital aspects of OMD, being the melody, the solid songwriting, and stellar musicianship does NOT belong exclusively to OMD singer, Andrew McCluskey. In fact, this album gives Mal, Martin, & ESPECIALLY Paul their moment to shine. And they do so brilliantly. Paul's voice is phenomenal & has only gotten better with time. Much more melodic & soulful than any of his OMD efforts. This album is what OMD's last album SHOULD have sounded like. Very mature, yet classy. The two stand-out tracks on this album are MEANT TO BE and the title track, STILL LIFE. Irrepressible hooks that keep you humming the damn melody for days after you've listened to it. While this album isn't as synth-laden as a "traditional" OMD album, it showcases a different side of the classic OMD sound.......true soul & solid, mature songs. Paul Humphries was undoubtedly the vital element in OMD's success. Truly one of the great & under-appreciated keyboardists of the last 25 years. And Martin Cooper's Bass playing is more solid & punchy than ANYHTHING on an OMD record. Mal Holmes rounds it all out with a tight in-the-pocket groove on the drumkit. As a long-time fan, I can only dream of how great OMD would be if these guys could get their differences put aside & get on with the music. Go out & Buy this album. You'll wonder WHY you waited so long. To sum it all up in one sentence......STILL LIFE is the long-lost OMD album. The type of record that Andy McCluskey & his hired guns SHOULD have made. A definite 5 out of 5 for me ! :-)"

"As for this album, it's great--everything you'd expect from the former members of OMD. It actually sounds pretty much like a lost OMD album---it is very hard to come by, and you'll be happy that you're able to add this to your collection!"

more info:
http://www.omd.uk.com/html/faq_4.html