{"product_id":"the-stranglers-aural-sculpture","title":"The Stranglers ‎– Aural Sculpture","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4 data-pm-slice=\"1 3 []\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Stranglers – Aural Sculpture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReleased in November 1984 on Epic Records, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAural Sculpture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the eighth studio album from British rock innovators The Stranglers. Following the more restrained, European-influenced sound of 1983's \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeline\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the album marked another significant development in the band's musical identity, embracing richer arrangements, more expansive songwriting and a distinctly melodic direction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProduced by Laurie Latham alongside the band, and recorded at ICP Studios in Brussels, the album introduced a three-piece brass section and backing vocalists, adding new dimensions to the group's established sound. The result is an adventurous combination of post-punk, new wave and sophisticated pop-rock, retaining the dark atmosphere and distinctive character of their earlier work while exploring a more polished mid-eighties production style.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHugh Cornwell's unmistakable vocals and guitar remain central to the music, complemented by Jean-Jacques Burnel's driving bass, Dave Greenfield's atmospheric keyboards and Jet Black's inventive percussion. The additional brass arrangements bring unexpected colour and rhythmic variety, helping distinguish \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAural Sculpture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e from the band's previous releases.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe album produced three memorable singles: the melodic and sharply observed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkin Deep\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the punchy \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo Mercy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and the more accessible \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLet Me Down Easy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Elsewhere, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNorth Winds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouls\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e stand out as particularly rewarding album tracks, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIce Queen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMad Hatter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e demonstrate the band's willingness to experiment with different textures and arrangements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReaching number 14 on the UK Albums Chart, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAural Sculpture\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e remains an important entry in The Stranglers' influential catalogue, documenting their transition from uncompromising punk and post-punk pioneers towards a broader, more sophisticated musical approach.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn essential listen for fans of classic British new wave, post-punk and alternative rock, and a particularly interesting album for collectors exploring The Stranglers' celebrated Epic Records years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTracklist\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide A\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIce Queen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkin Deep\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLet Me Down Easy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo Mercy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNorth Winds\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSide B\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003col data-spread=\"false\" start=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUptown\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePunch And Judy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaughing\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSouls\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMad Hatter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/6yiXh69f-5I?si=bPkeEQRAWrOaM-kw\" title=\"YouTube video player\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Epic Records","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56612965450070,"sku":"EPC 26220","price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1009\/1013\/7686\/files\/1000102986.jpg?v=1794585289","url":"https:\/\/www.sounds-grounds.co.uk\/products\/the-stranglers-aural-sculpture","provider":"Sounds + Grounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}