Record Rack – Pompano Beach, FL
The cover caught my eye. Something about the design screamed Kraftwerk meets Gary Numan. Upon listening, I was thrilled to discover the music isn’t far off from what I imagined staring at the cover. Not only is From the Tea-room of Mars… a really fascinating example of early synth-pop, the band’s musical ability transcends any one genre and elements of prog-rock and jazz also blend into this never-boring album.
There were “hit” songs on this album but I admittedly do not remember them. I later realized that I even owned one Landscape 7″ that was in my wife’s collection – their moody single “Norman Bates”. However, the real discovery in this tale from the crate was the band’s drummer and vocalist Richard James Burgess. As it turns out, Burgess is one of the most significant artists of the early 80s and I’ve enjoyed A LOT of his work without knowing it.
As a programmer, Burgess is credited with the first computer-driven hit (“Einstein A Go-Go” included on this album) as well as significant work with Kate Bush (Never For Ever album) and Visage (“Fade To Grey” single). As an inventor, he is credited with the unforgettable Simmons SDS-V drum kit which was used for the first time on From the Tea-rooms of Mars… and changed music forever. As a producer, he hit gold with the first two Spandau Ballet albums and is even considered the person who first uttered the famous name for the scene: New Romantic. Impressive.
Getting back to From the Tea-rooms of Mars…To the Hell-holes of Uranus (the immature full title of the album), the album has some brilliant tracks such as “Shake The West Awake” which reminds me of early Thompson Twins when they were a seven-piece band of upstart art school misfits. “New Religion” isn’t going to win over any Duran Duran fans expecting their version but it’s an ever shifting prog-pop electronic journey that build in intensity.
The big “hits” open the second side of the record and “Einstein A Go-Go” is a quirky track with a quirky video. Had it come out a little later, MTV would have scooped it up and Landscape might have become a household name in America. “Norman Bates” is certainly the more accomplished video and the track is a pretty clever musical adaptation of the Psycho premise.
The album ends with the title track broken into a suite of three movements to earn its prog medal of honor. It’s mostly atmospheric instrumentals that run a little long but it also sets Landscape apart as a band striving for something unique. If you listen close, you can almost hear the DNA of “We Are Detective” by Thompson Twins moving around in there. Perhaps they were influenced by Landscape? This is one tale from the crate that has a very happy ending. Landscape is staying in the collection!