The Listening Pool


The Listening Pool was an English band, founded by three former members of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, after the original-lineup split in 1989. It was composed of Paul Humphreys, Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper.
The group released one album, Still Life.

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 signed an agreement releasing Paul from his contract with Virgin Records while allowing Andy to continue using the name OMD. Until new OMD material was issued, nothing could be done on Paul's end.
Martin stated in the same Telegraph interview:
The Listening Pool originally signed with a record label called Inevitable, which later folded. The band then formed their own independent label, Telegraph Records. OMD had previously used the fictitious "Telegraph" label for Dazzle Ships, 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 was quite a change from the electronic sound of 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
  1. "Meant to Be" – 4:15
  2. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  3. "Follow Where You Go" – 3:54
  4. "Breathless" – 4:17
  5. "Somebody Somewhere" – 4:03
  6. "Photograph of You" – 4:17
  7. "Promised the World" – 4:28
  8. "Blue Africa" – 4:33
  9. "Still Life" – 4:34
  10. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:33
  11. "Wild Strawberries" – 3:55
  12. "Hand Me That Universe" – 2:11

Reception

Michael Sutton of AllMusic wrote, "The Listening Pool's jazzy, laid-back grooves on Still Life have more in common with the lush, romantic pop of China Crisis, The [Blue Nile (band)|the Blue Nile], and Roxy Music... The songs are magnificent, refreshingly moving beyond OMD's limited canvas." Trouser Press stated, "The Listening Pool crafts a pleasant, organic sound as akin to later Talk Talk 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 wrote that the band "made a great album, but it's kind of hard to find".

Singles

"Oil for the Lamps of China"
  • CD single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  2. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  3. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 6:02
  4. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 3:30
  • 12" single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 6:00
  2. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 3:30
  3. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  • Cassette single
  1. "Oil for the Lamps of China" – 3:34
  2. "Where Do We Go from Here" – 3:34
  3. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 6:02
  4. "Oil for the Lamps of China " – 3:30
"Meant to Be"
  • CD single
  1. "Meant to Be" – 4:15
  2. "Meant to Be " – 6:42
  3. "Meant to Be " – 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 and China Crisis. The label was short lived resulting in a brief catalogue.

Releases