03 December 2018
Newsdesk
One of the iconic singles of the 1980’s, a track which has defied time, trends and fashions, is to be reissued with not only a brand-new recording with all four original band members but with an extra NINE exclusive remixes.
Recording their first original material in over 25 years with a full orchestra, “I Ran” remains their masterpiece, a track which continues to permeate popular culture from television to radio to video games. Originally a top-ten hit in Australia, America and around the world (thought, ironically, not in the UK), both fans from back in the day and a whole new audience are bound to fall in love once again with this classic slice of synth majesty.
For the first time since 1984, all four original members of one of the most iconic bands of the 1980’s appeared on record together for their latest album “Ascension”. The recording puts a new and unique spin on their greatest hits by performing orchestral versions with the renowned Prague Philharmonic Orchestra providing the backing. Growing out of the synth-heavy and ruthlessly stylish new romantic movement, Mike Score (lead vocals, keyboards) along with his brother Ali (drums); Frank Maudsley (bass) and guitarist Paul Reynolds have transcended the music scene to become icons for the whole decade.
A Flock of Seagulls may well be known for their bizarrely extravagant haircuts as much as their hit singles but legions of their fans from their early days, as well as those who have joined their musical cult in the years since, recognise that their musical influence on countless bands has been under-appreciated for far too long. After initially making waves in the underground dance scenes of Europe, their signing to Jive and the release of their debut album in 1982 led to heavy MTV rotation with their singles “I Ran” and “Wishing”, with the latter hitting the US Top 40 and the Top Ten in the UK. Further hits, “Space Age Love Song” and “The Story of a Young Heart” couldn’t prevent the band from going their separate ways in 1984, though their iconic sound and image permeated into popular culture, from TV (Chandler’s haircut in Friends); computer games (“I Ran” was the standout track on Grand Theft Auto Radio) to film (the band and haircuts are referenced in Pulp Fiction, X-Men and The Wedding Singer).
Their much-heralded 2018 album “Ascension” comprises twelve tracks from across the band’s catalogue, recorded by the full original line-up in studios around the world, all featuring the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. The band have lost none of their power or majesty in the intervening years since their last recordings as a collective.
