Strangers in Paradise (1984) Ulli Lommel

For those whose exposure to Soft Cell has been limited to the glorious and inescapable "Tainted Love," the duo's 1984 swan song This Last Night in Sodom should feature a warning sticker. Singer Marc Almond and keyboardist Dave Ball don't attempt to recapture the Top 40 magic of that hit here. Instead, Almond completes his transformation into an electro-pop Scott Walker, operatically singing self-conscious and jaded songs like "Mr. Self-Destruct," "Little Rough Rhinestone," and "Meet Murder My Angel," while Ball's keyboards explore an icy, nearly Germanic abstraction (in the Kraftwerk/Neu! sense). Anyone intrigued by the prospect of faux-decadent torch songs in the Piaf/Brel tradition should be interested in this electronic hybrid of the style, but if you're looking for "Tainted Love, Pt. 2," it isn't here.

Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the 1970s, Camel continued to enjoy much success in the 1980s, producing fine studio albums such as Stationary Traveller. Although destined to be Camel's final studio album for Decca Records, it was a fine effort. The subsequent tour to promote the album was equally memorable and was captured by Decca at Hammersmith Odeon on 11th May 1984 and released as the album Pressure Points later that year. The concert saw Camel joined by former member Peter Bardens for certain songs during the set, including a rousing version of Lady Fantasy, not featured on the original album. Long unavailable on CD, this newly re-mastered Esoteric Recordings reissue has been expanded to a 2CD set to include songs not featured on the original album.

Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. Led by founder member Andrew Latimer, they have produced 14 original studio albums, 14 singles plus numerous other compilation and live albums. The band's music combines elements taken from jazz, classical and Baroque music, blues and electronic music. Pressure Points: Live in Concert is a live album by progressive rock band Camel, released in 1984. A remastered version with six bonus tracks was released in 2009 as a double CD Set.

For those whose exposure to Soft Cell has been limited to the glorious and inescapable "Tainted Love," the duo's 1984 swan song This Last Night in Sodom should feature a warning sticker. Singer Marc Almond and keyboardist Dave Ball don't attempt to recapture the Top 40 magic of that hit here. Instead, Almond completes his transformation into an electro-pop Scott Walker, operatically singing self-conscious and jaded songs like "Mr. Self-Destruct," "Little Rough Rhinestone," and "Meet Murder My Angel," while Ball's keyboards explore an icy, nearly Germanic abstraction (in the Kraftwerk/Neu! sense). Anyone intrigued by the prospect of faux-decadent torch songs in the Piaf/Brel tradition should be interested in this electronic hybrid of the style, but if you're looking for "Tainted Love, Pt. 2," it isn't here.

Unlike many bands whose careers had begun in the 1970s, Camel continued to enjoy much success in the 1980s, producing fine studio albums such as Stationary Traveller. Although destined to be Camel's final studio album for Decca Records, it was a fine effort. The subsequent tour to promote the album was equally memorable and was captured by Decca at Hammersmith Odeon on 11th May 1984 and released as the album Pressure Points later that year. The concert saw Camel joined by former member Peter Bardens for certain songs during the set, including a rousing version of Lady Fantasy, not featured on the original album. Long unavailable on CD, this newly re-mastered Esoteric Recordings reissue has been expanded to a 2CD set to include songs not featured on the original album.

RAINBOW'S tour of Japan in March 1984 would be their final set of live shows before they disbanded in April that year with Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover joining the Deep Purple Mark II reunion. This show from the famous Budokan in Tokyo captures the band in scintillating form performing tracks from across their career including a stunning version of "Difficult To Cure" with full orchestra and other classics including "Spotlight Kid", "I Surrender", "Catch The Rainbow", "All Night Long", "Can't Happen Here" and more.

Camel are an English progressive rock band formed in 1971. Led by founder member Andrew Latimer, they have produced 14 original studio albums, 14 singles plus numerous other compilation and live albums. The band's music combines elements taken from jazz, classical and Baroque music, blues and electronic music. Pressure Points: Live in Concert is a live album by progressive rock band Camel, released in 1984. A remastered version with six bonus tracks was released in 2009 as a double CD Set.