News: Erasure/Blancmange Project Doublespeak To Release Debut Album

Doublespeak – a new collaboration between Erasure's Vince Clarke, Blancmange's Neil Arthur and electronic producer-writer Benge – will release their self-titled debut album in May.

Arthur and Clarke first worked together back in the '80s, when the Blancmange man contributed an unused song to Clarke's short-lived project The Assembly. In 2017, Arthur approached Clarke with the idea for Doublespeak, pitching a collection of covers of artists including Young Marble Giants, ABBA, The Carpenters and David Essex using analogue electronics. Bengle – producer of the last six Blancmange albums and Fader – got on board, completing the three-piece.

"I knew so little about some of these songs that they were like demos to me," says Clarke. "They felt like brilliant new songs that you want to get your hands on. I’ve had people do cover versions of my songs and honestly there’s no better tribute. So that’s what we wanted to do here."

"What’s really stood out for us on this journey is how good these songs are," adds Arthur. "It's from doing your own version that you realise what incredible pieces of work they are."

Doublespeak is out 29 May 2026

 

Doublespeak Track List:  

 

1. Back To Nature (originally by Fad Gadget)

2. Brand – New – Life (Young Marble Giants)

3. The Visitors (ABBA)

4. I Can’t Escape Myself (The Sound)

5. Goodbye To Love (The Carpenters)

6. Rock On (David Essex)

7. Smoke And Mirrors (The Magnetic Fields)

8. Day Breaks, Night Heals (Thomas Leer and Robert Rental)

9. Gentle On My Mind (John Hartford)

10. Richard! (Ed Dowie)

11. End Credits (Laptop)