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The Listening Pool

From Alfawiki
Telegraph Records
Company typeIndependent record label
IndustryMusic
Founded1993
FounderThe Listening Pool
Defunct1990s
Area served
United Kingdom
ProductsMusic recordings

The Listening Pool was a British ensemble formed by three ex-members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) following the 1989 dissolution of the original group: Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes, and Martin Cooper.

Their discography includes a single album, Still Life (1994).

Origin of the Name

In the Telegraph fanzine, Martin Cooper described how the band chose its name:


Paul Humphreys further elaborated:


Issues with Contracts

Before releasing any material, The Listening Pool encountered challenges related to contractual obligations. An agreement between Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey allowed Paul to exit his contract with Virgin Records, while Andy retained rights to the OMD name. Consequently, Paul was unable to release new music under The Listening Pool until Andy issued fresh OMD content.

Martin Cooper remarked on this situation:


Initially, the band signed with Inevitable Records, which soon ceased operations. Subsequently, they launched their own label, Telegraph Records—reviving a previously fictitious imprint used by OMD for Dazzle Ships (1983) to project an independent image.

Initial Releases

Their first single, "Oil for the Lamps of China," debuted on 12 July 1993 and peaked at number 94 on the UK singles chart. The 1994 album Still Life represented a departure from OMD’s electronic roots, incorporating more acoustic percussion, saxophone, and keyboard elements that showcased each member’s musicianship.[1][2]

Disbandment

After recording tracks for a prospective second album—including "Satellite"—the band dissolved in 1996. Paul Humphreys went on to form Onetwo with Claudia Brucken; Martin Cooper returned to his painting career; and Malcolm Holmes remained engaged within the music sector.

In 2006, the classic OMD lineup—comprising McCluskey, Humphreys, Cooper, and Holmes—reassembled for touring and recording activities.

Album

Still Life (1994)

  1. "Meant to Be" – 4:15
  2. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  3. "Follow Where You Go" – 3:54
  4. "Breathless" – 4:17
  5. "Somebody Somewhere" (featuring Paul Roberts) – 4:03
  6. "Photograph of You" (featuring Simon Dutton) – 4:17
  7. "Promised the World" – 4:28
  8. "Blue Africa" – 4:33
  9. "Still Life" – 4:34
  10. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:33
  11. "Wild Strawberries" (featuring Thomas Lang) – 3:55
  12. "Hand Me That Universe" – 2:11

Critical Reception

Michael Sutton of AllMusic observed that Still Life'’s smooth jazz-inflected rhythms align with the romantic pop sensibilities of China Crisis and Roxy Music, commending its artistic evolution beyond typical OMD sounds. Trouser Press characterized the album as an enjoyable and organic work reminiscent of later Talk Talk or China Crisis efforts, emphasizing the track "Oil for the Lamps of China." P.F. Wilson from City Pages described it as an excellent but somewhat elusive record.

Singles

"Oil for the Lamps of China" (1993)

  • CD single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  2. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  3. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:02
  4. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Instrumental)" – 3:30
  • 12" single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:00
  2. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Single Mix)" – 3:30
  3. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  • Cassette single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  2. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  3. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:02
  4. "Oil for the Lamps of China (Instrumental)" – 3:30

"Meant to Be" (1995)

  • CD single
  1. "Meant to Be" – 4:15
  2. "Meant to Be (Extended Version)" – 6:42
  3. "Meant to Be (Instrumental)" – 4:18

Telegraph Records

The Listening Pool launched the independent label Telegraph Records to distribute their own material and to sign artists including Peter Coyle (both solo and with Pure Journey) as well as China Crisis. The label operated for a short period, producing a modest selection of releases.

Releases

Release date Catalogue Format Artist Title Producer Notes
22 April 1993 (1993-04-22) TLGCD006 5" CD single China Crisis "Black Man Ray" Mark Phythian Recorded live at Liverpool's Neptune Theatre
24 May 1993 (1993-05-24) TLGCD005 CD China Crisis Acoustically Yours Mark Phythian Live performance at the Neptune Theatre, Liverpool
TLGMC005 Cassette
24 May 1993 (1993-05-24) TLGCD007 CD Thomas Lang Versions Andrew Redhead, David A Hughes, John Murphy, Paul Humphreys, The Listening Pool
12 July 1993 (1993-07-12) TLGT001 12" single The Listening Pool "Oil for the Lamps of China" rowspan=3 align("The Listening Pool, Ronnie Stone")
align("TLGMC001") align("Cassette single")
align("TLGCD001") align("5\" CD single")
align("October 1994") align("TLGCD002") align("CD") align("The Listening Pool") align("Still Life") align("The Listening Pool, Ronnie Stone")
27 February 1995 (1995-02-27) "TLGCD003" "5\" CD single" "The Listening Pool" "Meant to Be" "The Listening Pool"
"1995" "TLGCD004" "CD" "Nicola and Alexandra Bibby" "Debussy & Fauré" "Martin Cooper" "Classical works by Claude Debussy and Gabriel Fauré"


References

  1. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Sutton
  2. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Trouser
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