The Lexicon of Love by ABC had been playing for several days in the ADK Kitchen, in anticipation of this long-awaited live rendition that I attended this week.
2022 was the 40th anniversary of the iconic album, no less. Where did that time go? The occasion has prompted band leader, Martin Fry, to go on the road on a UK concert tour, performing the work in full. He’s ably supported by the current members of ABC and the Southbank Sinfonia, an orchestra with full strings and percussion sections, conducted by Anne Dudley. Anne was responsible for the orchestral backing arrangements on the original album. She is also known for being part of experimental 80s band, The Art of Noise, along with the album’s producer, Trevor Horn.
To justify such an extravagant tour, an album really needs to hold a special place both in pop heritage, and in the hearts of its audience. That certainly apples here, with a full house of now, somewhat more mature fans still able to sing along, word perfectly, with every track.
Martin takes the audience through the album’s running order, track by track. He reminds us of the days when music was experienced by removing a vinyl disc from a cardboard sleeve, and putting it on a turntable. You placed an arm with a needle on the outside rim and let it run for about 15 mins of joyous sound, until it reached the label in the middle. Then, you flipped it over and did the whole thing again with Side 2. Concepts like streaming, mobile phones and online playlists with shuffle option, were still the stuff of science fiction.
Consequently, the band started with the opening track on Side 1, Show Me, and played the album in its proper running order, right through to the final track on Side 2, the instrumental reprise of The Look of Love. Along the way, every track, including the hit singles Poison Arrow, Tears Are Not Enough, The Look of Love Pt. 1 and All of My Heart received a rapturous welcome.
I was one of the many who played the original (on my little stereo turntable – what else?) more or less on repeat for quite some time when it was first released. It was a time when the New Romantics and Bowie Kids were emerging from the underground nightclubs and beginning to take over what, in those days, were popularly referred to as ‘The Charts’.
The Human League were showing us that electronic pop music was the future, with the Dare album. Spandau Ballet were sporting silk shirts and tartan cummerbunds, later becoming soul boys, embracing funk. Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, Visage, Ultravox and others would join them for what became known as the Second British Pop Invasion of the US (the first being the era of The Beatles and The Stones), providing a fresh, colourful and youthful soundtrack for the newly emerging world of 24/7 music television, MTV.
ABC’s masterpiece held a special place in the hearts of this generation.
A trip down memory lane, for sure, but the music still sounds as great as ever, brought to life here on the stage with a great band and the perfectly performed orchestral backing. Martin Fry’s voice holds up fine, and the intricate wordplay of his lyrics still sounds clever and witty. A performance that leaves a warm glow in the heart.
In a nice closing touch, Martin dedicated the performance to both the New Romantics and the Old Romantics in the audience.
Here’s ABC with The Look of Love Pt. 1.
A Different Kitchen 