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 Wirral Peninsula, Wirral, Merseyside, in 1978. The group consists of co-founders Andy McCluskey (vocals, bass guitar) and Paul Humphreys (keyboar ...

(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 who is best known for his contributions to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), a new wave band which he founded alongside Andy McCluskey in 1978. ...

Malcolm Holmes Malcolm Holmes (born 28 July 1960 in Birkenhead, England) 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 ...

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

Still Life A still life (plural: 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, 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 a ...

signed an agreement releasing Paul from his contract with

Virgin Records Virgin Records is a record label owned by Universal Music Group. It originally founded as a British independent record label in 1972 by entrepreneurs Richard Branson, Simon Draper, Nik Powell, and musician Tom Newman. It grew to be a worldwid ...

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 album

The Listening Pool released its debut album titled ''Still Life'' 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 Simon Dutton (born 1 January 1958) is an English actor,The New York Times
best known for play ...

) – 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/avant garde metal band stOrk and is known for his international session work on a wide variety of genres such as rock, ...

) – 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 music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

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. They were formed in 1979 in Kirkby, near Liverpool, Merseyside with a core of lead vocalist and keyboardist Gary Daly and guitarist Eddie Lundon. Initially a politically charged post-pun ...

the Blue Nile The Blue Nile was a Scottish band which originated in Glasgow. The group's early music was built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works featured guitar more prominently. Following early champ ...

, and

Roxy Music Roxy Music are an English rock music, rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson (musician), Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera ...

... 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 to ...

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

Talk Talk Talk Talk were an English band formed in 1981, led by Mark Hollis (vocals, guitar, piano), Lee Harris (drummer), Lee Harris (drums), and Paul Webb (bass). The group achieved early chart success with the synth-pop singles "Talk Talk (Talk Talk s ...

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 pop music groups English new wave musical groups Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups disestablished in 1996 Musical groups from Merseyside British musical trios