Search - Visage :: Fade to Grey: The Best of Visage

An excellent selection of early-'80s dance pop

Si Wooldridge | 01/31/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"No doubt about it, Visage were a "trendy" group of musicians. They didn't even see themselves as a band -- more as a collective, including several members of other popular British groups of the day, most notably Magazine and Ultravox. Visage started the music-and-fashion movement known as "Blitz" (after the nightclub that became their principal haunt) in the U.K., and as the "New Romantic" movement by anyone in the U.S. who cared. They had their moment of fame, they sold some records, and they faded from the public's attention.But the records they left behind, particularly the singles, definitely hold up. Although they may seem a bit dated to some listeners, Visage's best songs offer danceable beats, first-rate ensemble musicianship (including the playing of Ultravox members Billy Currie and Midge Ure, and ex-Magazine members Barry Adamson and Dave Formula -- all highly accomplished musicians), fine singing by Steve Strange (who was noted more for his dress-for-excess fashion tastes, but did possess a good voice), enjoyable melodies, and haunting, elegant, cool-to-the-touch textures of sound.*Fade to Grey* collects ten of their singles, and the best of these work as well for pure listening as well as dancing. They make exceptionally good listening for driving on a rainy night. "Visage," "Night Train," "Pleasure Boys," "Fade to Grey," and "The Damned Don't Cry" are all great singles, with a stately grace reminiscent of Abba. Other songs on the album seem to focus more on the beat -- "The Anvil" is probably the best of these.None of the lyrics here carry much in the way of meaning, apart from "Tar," which is about cigarette smoking (and which comes off as a bit silly). And their cover of the Zager & Evans tune "In the Year 2525" does improve on the original -- but frankly, it's almost impossible not to improve on that moldy oldie.Essential listening for any fan of Eighties pop music. And a good enjoyable listen for any pop lover. Check it out if you haven't already."

Modern remix ruins Visage...

Si Wooldridge | Chippenham, Wiltshire England | 08/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fade To Grey is an all-time classic, never mind 80's. Of course during a 90's revival of 80's music they have to try and ruin it by remixing classic tracks. The only thing wrong with this album is the FTG remix - it just goes to prove that you should leave alone that which you do not understand. This collection is a re-release of the original singles collection - the only change being addition of the remix thing.Visage were very much a collective although I think you can hear more of the influence of the Ultravox duo Midge Ure and Billy Currie (another classic band).This is a nice collection, bar the obvious, but you really need to buy both Visage and The Anvil (the 2 available studio albums) to really hear this band at it's best. Classic tracks await such as The Dancer, The Horseman, Look What They've Done and Visa-Age (nice pun...) - and lots, lots more.Back in 89 I managed to find a remix cassette of the original Singles Collection that contained 12" versions of all these tracks. Why can't someone release this, it was fantastic (shame it got chewed up...)."

Sure it's silly

J. Brady | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States | 06/01/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sure, the clothes, the makeup, and the posing were silly. And being tagged "New Romantics" by the tag-loving British press didn't give bands like Visage any credibility, despite the fact that they produced some mighty fine dance singles. I loathe the way the British music press loves to chew up and spit out artists at such a fast pace - what's hip today is passe tommorow. Pretty pathetic, really. The ONLY thing holding this great collection of singles back from a 5 star rating is the exclusion of the far superior 12" mix of the single Fade to Grey in favour of the 7" mix and a dreadful, unecessary new remix version of the same song. Had this cd been pressed as the original album was ( or even the great dance remix version of the album that was very briefly available on cassette, many years ago ) it would be perfect. As it is, it is only slightly flawed. As for the music itself, it is all heavily synthetic, very European sounding, influenced by the likes of Bowie and Kraftwerk. The presence of several members of Ultravox, as well as the underrated ( and sadly missed ) guitarist John McGeoch ( who later recorded with Siouxsie and the Banshees as well as Public Image Ltd ) gives the band a great musical base. And Steve Strange is a much better singer than you think he would be. The lyrics are ( mostly ) about nightclubbing, dancing, and dressing up, but they are really inconsequential, as the music really carries the album. A great slice of eighties dance music."