The Listening Pool was an English band, founded by three former members of

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Meols, Merseyside in 1978 by Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboards, vocals). Regarded as pioneers of electronic musi ...

(OMD), after the original-lineup split in 1989. It was composed of

Paul Humphreys Paul David Humphreys (born 27 February 1960) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the keyboardist and secondary vocalist of the Electronic music, electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), which he f ...

Malcolm Holmes Malcolm Holmes (born 28 July 1960) is a British drummer. He is best known for being the original drummer with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Biography Holmes’ first drumming sessions were for the Id, who included future members of OMD ...

and Martin Cooper. The group released one album, ''

Still Life A still life (: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly wikt:inanimate, inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or artificiality, human-m ...

'' (1994).

History

Name

Martin Cooper on how they came up with the band's name from an interview in the ''Telegraph'' fanzine: Paul Humphreys:

Contractual difficulties

The Listening Pool had to overcome a few obstacles before they could release their CD. The Listening Pool could not release any music since Paul Humphreys and

Andy McCluskey George Andrew McCluskey (born 24 June 1959) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of the electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), which he founded ...

signed an agreement releasing Paul from his contract with

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a British record label owned by Universal Music Group. They were originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman (musician), ...

while allowing Andy to continue using the name OMD. Until new OMD material was issued, nothing could be done on Paul's end. Martin states in the ''Telegraph'' interview: The Listening Pool originally signed with a record label called Inevitable, which later folded. The Listening Pool then formed their own independent label, Telegraph Records. OMD used the fictitious "Telegraph" label for '' Dazzle Ships'' (1983), to maintain the image of being signed to an "indie" label.

Debut single and album

The Listening Pool released its debut single, "Oil for the Lamps of China", on 12 July 1993. It peaked at number 94 in the UK singles chart. The band's debut album, titled ''Still Life'', was released in 1994. The style of ''Still Life'' is quite a change from the electronic sound of the OMD of old using the individual talents of the members with more acoustic drums, saxophone and keyboards.

Split

In 1996, after recording some songs intended for a follow-up album, one of which was titled "Satellite" the band split. Paul Humphreys went on to form the band Onetwo with Claudia Brucken, Martin Cooper resumed his painting career and Mal Holmes continued to work in the music industry. In 2006 the classic OMD line-up of McCluskey, Humphreys, Cooper, and Holmes reunited, and continued to tour and record.

Discography

Album

''Still Life'' (1994) # "Meant to Be" – 4:15 # "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34 # "Follow Where You Go" – 3:54 # "Breathless" – 4:17 # "Somebody Somewhere" (with Paul Roberts) – 4:03 # "Photograph of You" (with Simon Dutton) – 4:17 # "Promised the World" – 4:28 # "Blue Africa" – 4:33 # "Still Life" – 4:34 # "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:33 # "Wild Strawberries" (with

Thomas Lang Thomas Lang (; born 5 August 1967) is an Austrian drummer. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles–based progressive metal, progressive/avant garde metal band stOrk and is known for his international session work on a wide variety of ge ...

) – 3:55 # "Hand Me That Universe" – 2:11

Reception

Michael Sutton of

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

wrote, "The Listening Pool's jazzy, laid-back grooves on ''Still Life'' have more in common with the lush, romantic pop of

China Crisis China Crisis are an English new wave and synth-pop band formed in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside in 1979 with a core of lead vocalist/keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist/vocalist Eddie Lundon. Initially a politically charged post-punk band ...

, the Blue Nile, and

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry (lead vocals/keyboards/principal songwriter) and Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson (bass). By the time the band recorded their Roxy Music (album), first albu ...

... The songs are magnificent, refreshingly moving beyond OMD's limited canvas." ''

Trouser Press ''Trouser Press'' was a rock and roll magazine started in New York in 1974 as a mimeographed fanzine by editor/publisher Ira Robbins, fellow fan of the Who, Dave Schulps, and Karen Rose under the name "Trans-Oceanic Trouser Press" (a reference ...

'' stated, "The Listening Pool crafts a pleasant, organic sound as akin to later

Talk Talk Talk Talk were an English band formed in 1981 by Mark Hollis (vocals, guitar, piano), Lee Harris (drums), Paul Webb (bass), and Simon Brenner (keyboards). Initially a synth-pop group, Talk Talk's first two albums, '' The Party's Over'' (198 ...

or China Crisis as OMD. Highlighted by the fine single 'Oil for the Lamps of China', ''Still Life'' is worthwhile for hardcore OMD-ers." P.F. Wilson of ''

City Pages ''City Pages'' was an alternative newspaper serving the Minneapolis–St. Paul metropolitan area. It featured news, film, theatre and restaurant reviews and music criticism, available free every Wednesday. It ceased publication in 2020 due to a ...

'' wrote that the band "made a great album, but it's kind of hard to find".

Singles

"Oil for the Lamps of China" (1993) *CD single # "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34 # "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34 # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:02 # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Instrumental)" – 3:30 *12" single # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:00 # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Single Mix)" – 3:30 # "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34 *Cassette single # "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34 # "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34 # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Extended Version)" – 6:02 # "Oil for the Lamps of China (Instrumental)" – 3:30 "Meant to Be" (1995) *CD single # "Meant to Be" – 4:15 # "Meant to Be (Extended Version)" – 6:42 # "Meant to Be (Instrumental)" – 4:18

Telegraph Records

The Listening Pool formed their own independent label, Telegraph Records. Besides releasing their own work, they also signed artists like Peter Coyle (both as a solo artist and as part of Pure Journey) and

. The label was short lived resulting in a brief catalogue.

Releases

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Listening Pool, The English musical trios English pop music groups English new wave musical groups Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups disestablished in 1996 Musical groups from Merseyside