Electro-Pop Legends Unite to Craft the Ultimate Covers Album

Electro-pop legends Doublespeak bring fresh life to classic tracks with their unique covers album, blending nostalgia with innovative synth sounds.

Chasing Warmth and Synth Magic: Meeting Doublespeak

Picture this: a sweltering UK heatwave setting the scene as I chat with Neil Arthur and Benge of Doublespeak. Their light-hearted banter about staying cool is charming, but then there’s Vince Clarke, whose sun-kissed cheeks and easy laughter tell a different story. Vince, the synth mastermind behind Erasure, Yaz, and Depeche Mode, now basks in the perpetual sunshine of San Diego.

Imagine stepping into Vince’s minimalist, all-white synth room — a sleek, no-frills space echoing the ethos of a pioneer who's always let his music speak louder than words. This sunny California setup has been his refuge since leaving the colder climes of New York.

“I got sick of being old and cold,” Vince confides. “For a long time, I’ve been thinking about moving West just to warm up a little bit… It’s one of the best decisions I ever made.”

His love for the laid-back vibe shines through. He paints the image of a surfer bar where he’s possibly the only one wearing a suit, eyeing shorts with playful disdain. It’s a vivid contrast to the polished world of synth-pop stardom.

Neil Arthur’s Cozy, Creative Corner

Meanwhile, Neil Arthur’s space feels like a snug literary nook—narrow cupboards stuffed with books, floral curtains softly filtering light, and a jaunty cap adding to his vibrant persona. It’s the same magnetic energy I remember watching on “Top of the Pops,” performing Blancmange classics like “Living on the Ceiling” and “Don’t Tell Me.”

Nearby, Benge’s studio pulses with modular synths and rows of CDs—a perfect backdrop for this modern electro-producer. Benge’s long-standing partnership with Neil, including producing Blancmange’s last six albums and collaborating on their project Fader, cements the trio’s seasoned chemistry.

Longtime Bonds and New Collaborations

Though Vince and Neil have decades of friendship behind them, Doublespeak is their first musical adventure together. Vince also shares history with Neil’s Blancmange bandmate, the late Stephen Luscombe, through the West India Company. Despite common assumptions, Vince insists not all ’80s synth musicians were an inseparable club of friends.

“Most bands in the ’80s hated each other,” Vince recalls with a laugh. “Most musicians from my era were very shy... When you start making music, and if it becomes slightly successful, you think you’re the bee’s knees. But then you get older and realize other people’s ideas are quite good too.”

Their collaboration blossomed from this mature openness. Vince highlights the rarity of friendships in later life, especially among shy creatives like himself, and how music can bridge those gaps.

Crafting ‘Doublespeak’: A Covers Album with a Twist

What makes Doublespeak’s self-titled album stand apart is its daring choice of covers. The collection spans David Essex’s “Rock On”, ABBA’s “The Visitors,” the Carpenters’ “Goodbye to Love,” Fad Gadget’s “Back to Nature,” and Magnetic Fields’ “Smoke and Mirrors.” Yet, these aren’t mere replicas—they are reinvented, infused with the band’s distinctive electro-pop DNA.

“These covers were never going to be copies of the originals. You put your own stamp on them because you have to inhabit the song. If you don’t believe it, how can you expect anybody else to?”

Vince admits about half the songs were new territory for him, making the work more exciting.

“It made it much more interesting because there weren’t expectations. I approached it almost like a remix.”

Benge, too, felt the thrill of discovery, likening Neil’s demos to hearing these songs for the very first time.

Bringing It All Together: The Role of Benge

While Vince and Neil laid much of the album’s groundwork, Benge’s touch was crucial in turning scattered recordings into a cohesive work. His role went beyond production—he curated sound textures, added drum beats, synth lines, and effects that gave the album its identity.

“The songs needed to sound like an album rather than lots of different tracks,” Benge notes.

Vince reveals his philosophy on covers:

“If I don’t feel I can make a song different in a good way, I don’t get involved. Some songs are already perfect.”

This meticulous craft made Doublespeak a "pass it on" project, where the trio communicated through musical back-and-forths rather than endless meetings—slicing away excess and making room for fresh creativity.

Looking Ahead: Originals on the Horizon

Though Doublespeak is a covers album, the band is already gearing up to write original songs for their next release. A few original tracks tied to this project will surface soon as promotional material, reflecting their low-pressure, joy-first approach.

This relaxed attitude comes from decades of experience and a career that no longer hinges on streaming stats, something Vince acknowledges with a warm sense of nostalgia.

“When we started, everything was new—the excitement of the first record deal, hearing tracks on the radio... Now it’s different. Still exciting, but different.”

From Basildon to Electronic Pioneer

Vince’s journey began humbly in Basildon, carrying synths and cables on trains to BBC studios for “Top of the Pops” performances. An image that instantly conjures the scrappy early days for any synth-pop fan.

Surprisingly, Vince’s earliest musical love was acoustic folk and guitar-driven tunes, not electronic sounds. Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon holds a special place in his collection, with multiple copies carefully preserved.

But it was Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) that truly ignited his passion for synth music, specifically the simplicity and folk-like melody of their B-side “Almost.”

“That was the moment I decided I would really like to do electronic music… Ditch the guitar. Buy some synths.”

Neil encourages listeners to dive into the original artists behind the covers, hoping they’ll appreciate the songs as much as Doublespeak does.

“These songs mean a massive amount to us. We studied them to do our versions. Great songs, great artists.”

FAQ

• How did Doublespeak select the songs for their covers album?
  Neil Arthur picked a mix of well-known and obscure tracks, aiming to breathe new life into them with their unique electronic interpretations.
• Did all members know the original songs before covering them?
  Vince Clarke admits he hadn’t heard about half the songs before, which made the project more exciting and free from expectations.
• What role did Benge play in the album’s production?
  Benge brought cohesion, crafted the sonic identity, and added drums, synth parts, and effects to unify the tracks.
• Are there any original songs from Doublespeak?
  Yes! While not on the album, two original tracks were created and will be released as promotional material, with plans for original songs in the next album.
• What inspired Vince Clarke’s move to San Diego?
  Tired of cold weather and seeking a relaxed lifestyle, Vince moved for the sunshine and chill vibes of Southern California.

If you’re as inspired by Doublespeak’s tribute to electro-pop heritage as I am, why not shop your favorite classic album cover poster at our store? It’s a perfect way to bring the spirit of synth legends into your space.

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