This is a Random Album Generator.
One album a day.
From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

A Walk Across The Rooftops

The Blue Nile

1984

A Walk Across The Rooftops
Album Summary

A Walk Across the Rooftops is the debut album by Scottish band The Blue Nile, released on 30 April 1984 on Linn Records in the UK and on A&M Records in the US. Although the album was released to little fanfare and was not a big hit on its initial release, it slowly accumulated fans and sales through word of mouth as the years passed, and by the time the follow-up Hats was released in 1989, A Walk Across the Rooftops had sold 80,000 copies. It continued to gather praise when reissued in 2012. The Irish singer Andrea Corr recorded "Tinseltown in the Rain" for her 2011 album of cover versions Lifelines and released it as the first single from that album. Duo Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin included a cover of "Heatwave" on their 1990 album The Big Idea.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.87

Votes

9966
Genres
Rock
New Wave
Pop

Reviews

Like a review? Give it a thumb up to help us display relevant reviews!
Sort by: Top Date
View Author
Wed Dec 16 2020
1

The wikipedia article lists this album genre as "sophisti-pop" which gives you a good idea of what you're getting into. This is some of the most pretentious 80s crap ever. The lyrics are incoherent, the instrumentation is a disconnected mess, and the song structure is completely nonexistent. I almost gave this a star because the singer has a pretty good voice. But, no. It's not enough to save the album. It's like some some guys in a highschool drama club got really into Bowie and decided to give it a try "but, you know, let's make it ours, right? Let's get experimental." Luckily, the whole album is only 38 minutes long. Because it's utter trash.

👍
View Author
Thu Jan 21 2021
4

Goddamn this is a smooth album, especially Heatwave. Very short. First album/artist so far I know nothing about, and glad I’ve now heard it.

👍
View Author
Thu Jun 03 2021
3

When the bass line plays on A Walk Across The Rooftops, I feel like David Lynch is saying hello from the set of Twin Peaks. There is no melody to this song, just seemingly disparate musical parts. The parts are clearly synced together, but there’s no constant beat. Strangely I like this about the song. There are several other parts of the album that feel similar, like everyone is playing the same song, but they all started at different times. It’s really difficult to pin down a description. There is order to it, not randomness. It just feels like the music is constantly throwing me off. Again, I somewhat like this aspect of the album because I’ve never quite heard anything like it. Another thing I like is the lead singer’s voice. When he says “heatwaaave” in Heatwave, I think it could be the music dictionary’s definition the quintessential 1980s pop sound. I don’t know, I instantly recognize the decade by this one word. Easter Parade is sleep inducing, not in a good way while the bass driven groove on Stay is quite enjoyable. I’ve written quite a bit of positive things about this album, but I didn’t download it. Much like the album itself, my thoughts above are disjointed from my overall feeling about it. In the end I don’t really like the album as much as this review might indicate, but I do appreciate its strange uniqueness.

👍
View Author
Wed Jul 07 2021
4

This was a really cool album. Reminiscent of the albums we've heard from Prefab Sprout and Simple Minds, so it comes as no surprise to see this also labeled "sophisti-pop." I really dug the structure, seven pretty long songs that you can sink your teeth into is always nice. Some very interesting instrumental choices, too. Quite a few tracks on here I'll return to. Favorite tracks: From Rags to Riches, Stay, Tinseltown in the Rain, Heatwave. Album art: Not bad for a band photo, the framing and multicolored text is pretty nice. But nothing special. 4/5

👍
View Author
Fri Apr 16 2021
1

This album is everything that's wrong with the music of the first half of the 80s. tuneless, wordy nonsense.

👍
View Author
Thu Oct 20 2022
5

I feel like taking part in this project has changed my Spotify recommendations algorithm to the point where it's started pumping out tracks from albums on the list. Case in point: "Heatwave" by The Blue Nile, which I've definitely heard before, very recently. The album is good though, its percussive soundscape still sounds great and ensures it hasn't dated as badly as music by The Blue Nile's peers. I also assumed they were from downtown New York, not the highlands of Scotland.

👍
View Author
Mon Mar 15 2021
4

The Blue Nile's debut album has a rather fascinating genesis. Scotland's Linn Electronics wanted a demo track to demonstrate the fidelity and versatility of their new recording console and tapped a struggling local trio, the Blue Nile, to provide it. Their effort was a deliberately disjunctive song called "A Walk Across the Rooftops." To demonstrate the recording equipment's dynamic range and clarity, the song was arranged most peculiarly, with vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and full string and horn sections all appearing, but never at the same time. Linn liked the song so much that they formed a record label and bankrolled the recording of this full album. The seven lengthy tracks on A Walk Across the Rooftops all follow the model of the opener, with Paul Buchanan's rich voice at the center of near-symphonic arrangements that manage to sound lush and incredibly austere at the same time. The tempos are deadly slow, with the most upbeat track, "Tinseltown in the Rain," barely rising above a graceful saunter, and the inventive arrangements make extensive use of empty space. This was a popular album for demonstrating the lack of hiss and background noise in the then-new compact disc medium, but A Walk Across the Rooftops works even better as a piece of music than as a stereo demonstration record.

👍
View Author
Sun Mar 05 2023
2

More pretentious, early 80s new wave rubbish. I’ll give it an extra star for being listenable.

👍
View Author
Thu Jun 03 2021
1

The Blue Who? I was dreading another very dated 80s album filled with synth. Turned out it was worse than that. "A Walk Across the Rooftops" did provide some brief glimpses of hope, with the incorporation of real piano and real strings, along with a funky baseline. But then came "Tinseltown in the Rain," which might be my least favorite song of this experiment so far. After tight 2 minute songs from Loretta Lynn the other day, the 5-6 minute songs here were agonizingly long. It's possible have good longer songs, that are dynamic and shift and change throughout. That's not what this was. They just droned on. And on.

👍
View Author
Sun Jan 31 2021
5

Incredibly well paced and measured; an excellent demonstration of restraint in pop music that is seldom seen. Rad.

👍
View Author
Wed Mar 08 2023
5

It is impossible to overstate my love for this album. Tinseltown in the rain is the absolute stand out but the whole album is drenched in big synthy strings that sound fantastic when off set by that 80’s bass sound and Paul Buchanan’s soulful vocals. There’s so much going on in the mix that even now, after knowing and loving it for 20 years, I still discover new things on each listen

👍
View Author
Thu May 27 2021
4

I found this album to be an unexpected delight. Languid, sparse, and with unconventional structures and arrangements. All these songs feel tinged with sadness or melancholy in a way that cultivates a very distinct mood. 3.5/5 Favourite track: "Easter Parade"

👍
View Author
Thu May 27 2021
4

Not having heard of Blue Nile previous to listening to this album I didn't know what to expect. On first listen I struggled a bit to find a sense of how I felt about the album and ultimately found myself having to stop what I was doing and give it my full attention. Once I started to relax and really listen I began to be mesmerized by the sound. What is interesting is the music lacks the usual hooks that I look for but there was something romantic about the music that drew me in offset by the raw vocals. Somehow it works. I will definitely give more time to this album. Favorite song: Tinsel Town in the Rain

👍
View Author
Wed Nov 29 2023
3

Nr. 51/1001 A Walk Across The Rooftops 4/5 Tinseltown in the Rain 3/5 From Rags to Riches 2/5 Stay 4/5 Easter Parade 3/5 Heatwave 4/5 Automobile Noise 3/5 Average: 3,29 Really liked the melancholic voice and the toned-down usage of instruments

👍
View Author
Thu Jan 28 2021
2

Another band I never heard of!. Wikipedia says these guys are art pop or synth pop, and that feels pretty accurate. I wasn’t a big fan of the singer’s voice, but as always that is just a taste thing. The first track, which was also the title track, really drew me in. It had a very minimal feel, with the different instruments coming in one at a time. I wonder if this is where Spoon got the idea from. I loved both the tone of the bass, and the bass lines themselves, especially in the songs that were more musically spare where it could shine. The way the bass line hit in the title track reminded me a little bit of the way it comes in in Beck’s Soldier Jane, satisfyingly filling a rift in the song that you didn’t even know was there. Of the seven songs on this album, only 2-3 were in that sparse groovy style, with the others feeling too slow for my taste, or too much like other 80’s synth music. I would recommend listening to that title track, but not much else. As for belonging on this list, well, they don’t seem to be very well known, or very influential, or very consistent, to my ear. I think the list could have done without it. My personal enjoyment: 2/5 Did it belong on this list: 2/5

👍
View Author
Thu Jun 03 2021
2

There's something about this album that makes me think of one of the best, if not THE best 80's movie, Brazil. s. I imagine that this must be one of those albums that was right for it's time, but out of place in any other. Released in 1984, Communism was on high, the Berlin wall was still a thing, Gordon Gekko / Michael Milken was selling junk bonds on Wall Street and we were in the middle of the Reagan years. Perhaps it's the Reagan connection, but the word 'bureaucracy' is a good descriptor word for A Walk Across the Rooftops. There's a lot of busy work here, but you never get anywhere with this album. It's like you keep jumping through hoops because you're programed to think 'if I just listen a little more I'm sure I'll find something interesting.' This album I'm sure was considered intellectual and avant garde when it was released. It's just oozing with the 'you're not smart enough to understand this music' vibe, but I don't think there's much here to consider. The underlying music is incredibly repetitive, I found myself wondering if maybe some of this was repurposed for use in Roblox games, and the singing doesn't contribute much. Sometimes his voice sounds like he's either yawning while singing or taking their last breath before dying and neither are dramatic. I haven't seen Brazil in probably 30+ years, but I suddenly want to rewatch in hopes that it hasn't aged as much as this album.

👍
View Author
Wed Jun 16 2021
5

This is just amazing… so much emotion and feel. It’s a lesson in less-is-more…. Just a wonderfully crafted album from start to finish!

👍
View Author
Tue Jun 22 2021
5

Actually pretty enjoyable and I didn't immediately recognize the artist, but it sounds so familiar! Such a smooth voice. 4.5

👍
View Author
Wed May 19 2021
5

Awesome ambiance music I really did not expect it and loved it

👍
View Author
Sun Jan 31 2021
5

Everything good from the 80s IMO

👍
View Author
Fri Apr 09 2021
5

Post New Wave, synth Soul, obra despojada de adornos. Hija de su tiempo suena sin embargo atemporal, para nada envejecida y muy actual. Se alarga en desarrollos. Muy bueno.

👍
View Author
Tue Jun 08 2021
5

Short and sweet. Totally my shit.

👍
View Author
Thu Dec 09 2021
5

theatrical, brooding synth with sophisticated instrumentation and the ghost of Japanese citypop. Montages of a morose rainy walk around NYC. Excellent album for those pained with wistful nostalgia

👍
View Author
Fri Jan 21 2022
5

Very complex and artsy arrangements Sometimes sparse instrumentation Can be quite atmospheric and lo-fi "Easter Parade" features a beautiful piano melody

👍
View Author
Fri Jan 21 2022
5

Never heard of this genre before, but I absolutely love this album. Has such a nice ambience to it. Especially enjoying ''Heatwave''

👍
View Author
Wed Jan 26 2022
5

Brilliant...I really enjoyed listening to it.

👍
View Author
Fri Apr 15 2022
5

Super je ovo četiri će dobit samo zato što je hats remek djelo. Ma kvrgu ipak pet. Ovo je definitivno najbolji sophisti pop

👍
View Author
Wed Apr 27 2022
5

Loved this from start to finish. Right up my sonic street.

👍
View Author
Sun Oct 16 2022
5

Looooved this. So moody and beautiful

👍
View Author
Wed Dec 07 2022
5

Gotta give this a 5. Earnestly beautiful, expertly balancing heartfelt emotions with intricate arrangements to create songs that can truly captivate you. This is aided, in no small part, by the excellent production

👍
View Author
Fri Mar 03 2023
5

Really enjoyable album, just mellow and moody, Stay was my favourite track.

👍
View Author
Thu Mar 09 2023
5

I really liked this album. Hadn't ever heard them before and was very pleasantly surprised. I'm going to spend some more time on them in the future. Those are refreshing sound. I really like musically how it moved and I do like the vocals. Very nice overall.

👍
View Author
Mon Mar 13 2023
5

absolutely GORGEOUS I am in love with these groovy-ass tunes! 10/10

👍
View Author
Thu Mar 16 2023
5

Four albums only and 4 perfect ones. All albums deserve 5 stars. All 7 songs of this album brilliant, Automobile Noise favourite track. Saw then live twice and you can't forget experiences like that,

👍
View Author
Fri Mar 24 2023
5

Walk across the rooftops sounds like it may have inspired some of Sting's early solo work. I love the arrangement of the track. Lazy bass, dreamy time, I've wandered in this fog more than once.

👍
View Author
Sun Apr 02 2023
5

Oh, it was love at the first sight. I feel I've been listening to it for ages. Maybe it just reminded me of Imploding The Mirage by the Killers. Anyway, I'll take it to my playlist

👍
View Author
Thu May 25 2023
5

I love eighties music, but until recently, I really hadn't heard much Sophisti-pop, minus a few singles here and there (Spandau Ballet, Level 42, and ABC). But a year or so ago, a friend of mine who knows my love for eighties music and synths made me a Sophisti-pop playlist on Spotify, and I really enjoyed it. I've never heard of The Blue Nile before, but this album was absolutely fantastic. Every song was great, and the album as a whole had a really unique feel and vibe to it. I have a few notes on my favorite tracks: "Tinseltown in the Rain" has such great piano and guitar riffs. I think there was a part where a synth was playing stringed instrument sounds, and I loved that too; in my opinion, something like that is what Sophisti-pop is all about. The looping synthesizers in the background on "From Rags to Riches" were really great. The saxophone on "Heatwave" was fantastic; that's another Sophisti-pop element that I enjoy. The vocals really reminded me of Peter Gabriel, and I was shocked to learn that he really promoted the band, and even recorded a song with them later. However, when I played this album for my wife, she was getting Bowie vibes from the vocals, and I can hear that too. Either way, this album was great, and I can't wait to get more music like it.

👍
View Author
Mon Jun 12 2023
5

Well there you go. Just goes to prove you should check something out yourself before basing your opinion on other people's views. I listened to this and lo and behold think it's pretty good. I know it'll never amount to much now and at the time due to no real label promotion it got nowhere. It's short but really well put together - kinda like a less poppy Talk Talk? Giving it 5 stars not because it deserves them but to say sorry for all the nasty reviews...

👍
View Author
Sat Jul 08 2023
5

Oh this is an awesome discovery. I love this style of synth pop, must have surely inspired Talk Talk, especially in their development of post-rock. 7 tracks and they're all fantastic in their own ways, with a couple dance tracks, a couple powerful pop pieces, and the rest being ambient emotional pieces. I love how spacious and atmospheric they all are, incorporating all sorts of sudden lush sound effects that make for a very pleasant experience. Not a single second felt wasted on this record.

👍
View Author
Sat Aug 19 2023
5

I had never heard of these guys before and based on the description, I really didn't expect to enjoy this album as much as I did. In terms of musicianship, this was even a good album and in terms of songwriting it was pretty standard. But what truly shines about this album is the stellar production. The way all of the sounds are brought out and contrasted is a piece of art in itself.

👍
View Author
Sun Sep 10 2023
5

Tinseltown in the Rain is one of the best 80s songs that I didn't know about

👍
View Author
Wed Sep 27 2023
5

From the sound of the first note to the last, The Blue Nile demand and obtain perfection in A Walk Across the Rooftops. Seven tracks and less than forty minutes are needed to build a worldview so pristine no amount of dirt and grime could be piled on to sully its feature. Sophisticated pop has never before or since sounded this exact and this is the album that provides the blueprint for others to follow.

👍
View Author
Thu Oct 19 2023
5

Absolutely fantastic, I never knew music like this had been around for so long

👍
View Author
Fri Dec 08 2023
5

What a surprise! It's exactly these deep cuts I started this for. Never heard of this album. Yet again it seems like bad reviews seem to result in me liking an album

👍
View Author
Fri Dec 15 2023
5

This is a 4.5 and Hats is a 5. I find some of the instrumentals kind of funny, they remind my of when I was in year 7 and we had to start composing things on Sibelius.

👍
View Author
Thu Jan 18 2024
5

Awesome! Perfect rainy day music.

👍
View Author
Sun Jan 21 2024
5

This album was great! Especially the sound.

👍
View Author
Sat Feb 10 2024
5

Despite this getting a little slow for me by the end, I really loved the sound of this music: a little synth, a little piano, a little strings. Nice.

👍
View Author
Wed Feb 21 2024
5

Omg, it all came flooding back. Scotland’s own The Blue Nile, and dancing to ‘Tinseltown in the Rain’ at The Pub in Rose Street with my pal Tracy. Not the most danceable tune tbf. And it always stuck in my mind that Paul Buchanan dated Rosanna Arquette for a while. This was better than I remember. Fantastic

👍
View Author
Fri Mar 15 2024
5

Love Blue Nile. Some is really reminiscent of the melody licks and instrumentation of sadder songs of Peter Gabriel, "Easter parade" reminds me of "here comes the flood" for example. Both just a very unique emotion evoked and something to sit with. I love Stay so much. It seems to me that it's a song steeped in regret more than hope, like the promise one should have made to someone who's already departed. But that could be just a personal interpretation given when I found and obsessively listened on repeat to this song in my own biography...sigh. Must be something Scottish to this kind of pop that I find so rewarding.

👍
View Author
Mon Jun 28 2021
4

Love the atmosphere here. Very unique and detailed sound. Headphone ride.

👍
View Author
Tue May 11 2021
4

This was something really unique, I'm not sure how to classify the genre on it. Totally new to me and a welcome find.

👍
View Author
Fri Mar 19 2021
4

This is wild. Bridging the gap between 70s Fripp, and 80s Talking Heads off-beat mellow weirdness. Really good, but best for a rainy work day morning.

👍
View Author
Thu Jul 08 2021
4

it wasn't mediocre, but it wasn't my favorite. i'd never heard of them, and was apprehensive - but ultimately, i enjoyed this one.

👍
View Author
Thu Jan 28 2021
4

surprisingly loved this album. i'm not huge on synth music, but it had a few banger tracks on it, and it was a cool listen to, very chill.

👍
View Author
Wed Jul 07 2021
4

Like a more calm talking heads. Did not like the beginning of track one and I dreaded the rest. But then I got hooked! Very enjoyable, and I’ll definitely be revisiting.

👍
View Author
Wed Jul 07 2021
4

This was a really relaxing listen, I enjoyed most of the songs and felt like I was listening to 80’s soft rock but it was unique enough to stand on its own. Very short and sweet

👍
View Author
Sat May 08 2021
4

Aangename verrassing, al kende ik al wel een paar nummers. Een van mijn all time favourites is Let's go out tonight, maar dat staat op een andere plaat. Later prachtig uitgevoerd door Craig Armstrong en de zanger van The Blue Nile. Gaat dat luisteren! Nu houd ik op met m'n loftuitingen.

👍
View Author
Sat May 08 2021
4

Ok, dit kende ik niet en was geweldig!

👍
View Author
Tue Jul 13 2021
4

Enjoyed this and being introduced to a new genre: ambient soft rock.

👍
View Author
Tue Jul 13 2021
4

Some arresting melodies and lyrical flourishes made this a fascinating listen and I expect it will grow in my estimation on future listens.

👍
View Author
Thu May 27 2021
4

A Walk Across the Rooftops really slowed my day down, as the members of Blue Nile strikes a good balance between sparse arrangements and raw vocals to great effect. The lyrics can be painful and bleak, but A Walk Across the Rooftops never loses steam. It's definitely an album I'll be returning to. Fav Tracks: "Automobile Noise", "A Walk Across The Rooftops" and "Tinseltown in the Rain"

👍
View Author
Sun Sep 19 2021
4

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: A walk across the rooftops, Heatwave

👍
View Author
Sun Oct 24 2021
4

Was not familiar with this band, but I did recognise the single Tinseltown in the Rain. Pretty good, but did not capture me enough for a top tier rating.

👍
View Author
Thu Nov 18 2021
4

A fun album, not what I usually listen to, but pleasant background music.

👍
View Author
Mon Nov 29 2021
4

Un mini clàssic per descobrir. Barreja del new pop elegantot i classicista d'uns ABC, amb el synth pop més seriós i fins i tot tocs del pop arty de The The. Cançons com 'Stay' reivindiquen la seva rellevància i tot ell és una obra per continuar recuperant de tant en tant

👍
View Author
Fri Jan 28 2022
4

It's like if Frank Sinatra fronted a synth/electronic band. This is a fair assessment and not necessarily a negative critique. It's disarming and quirky. Tinseltown in the Rain though, feels like a lost Peter Gabriel song, and I love it. Stay is another stand out song here. This album is better than it should be.

👍
View Author
Fri Jan 28 2022
4

Jättebra! som ett snäppet mer modernt Talking Heads. Otroligt bra ljud! Älskar den här mixen! Rolig och engagerande!

👍
View Author
Fri Feb 18 2022
4

le titre de l'album est particulièrement bien choisi

👍
View Author
Wed Feb 23 2022
4

Yeah this one was good i like it

👍
View Author
Fri Feb 25 2022
4

Before this, I hadn't heard of the Blue Nile. This album really surprised me and I gotta say it is one of those albums that really makes you feel an unnamable feeling. I looked it up and that's what "Sophisti-pop" is. Play this album on a rainy day and stare out the window while listening to this album, I dare you. Favorite song: Tinseltown in the Rain

👍
View Author
Thu Mar 10 2022
4

Lots of ear candy here. Was glad to hear a proper synth album. Singers was a little mismatched for the style and these tunes are not as catchy as say Tears for Fears, Depeche Mode, pet shop boys. Favorite tracks: tinseltown in the rain, from rags to riches

👍
View Author
Thu Mar 10 2022
4

Great post punk/new wave sound that I was totally unaware of.

👍
View Author
Mon Mar 21 2022
4

I wasn't sure what to expect from a genre called Sophisti-pop. But I actually really like it. I definitely hear the Peter Gabriel influences and at times I feel a bit of lyrical style similar to Leonard Cohen. At times it can be an overload of Synth tones, but it is a very musically progressive sound that I do enjoy when the overload isn't too much. I think it is one of my favorite synth basses I've heard recently. I was not expecting a song that said automobile noise over and over again but it was honestly kinda good. I think my favorite part of this list is getting to discover new genres and actually enjoy more of them than I would have expected.

👍
View Author
Fri Mar 25 2022
4

Really gorgeous, sparse production and vocals. I can see why this was commissioned to showcase sound systems. I definitely dig it.

👍
View Author
Mon May 02 2022
4

Artful and elegant and evocative, has the feel of fully hand-crafted and intensely personal music. The combo of synths and strings is most impressive, really thoughtful textures with the observational lyrics and actorly delivery makes this feel quite a literary record – just a lovely summing up of what it means to be alive. “Automobile Noise” is a particular fave among uniformly strong tracks.

👍
View Author
Wed May 25 2022
4

A cool and atmospheric blend of synths, funk and orchestral sounds. Didn’t keep my attention though and slide into the background after a few tracks.

👍
View Author
Fri Jun 03 2022
4

J'ai vraiment aimé. J'ai beaucoup de vibe Peter Gabriel Solo et j'adore. 4.5

👍
View Author
Wed Jun 15 2022
4

Définitivement à réessayer. Un son très brit et très 80s, mais en même temps très avant-gardiste et avec une personnalité propre.

👍
View Author
Thu Jun 30 2022
4

Timeless sophistopop where so much of the magic is in the spaces. Tinseltown in the🏃‍♀️Rain: perhaps only Richard Hawley's Coles Corner gets close to the same fragile melancholy.

👍
View Author
Thu Jul 07 2022
4

Olipa melankolisen kaunis ja musiikillisesti kiinnostava levy. Nautin! 4/5

👍
View Author
Thu Jul 07 2022
4

Näiden Hats on upea levy ja niin on näemmä tämäkin. Tosi persoonallinen tunnelma näissä, sitä hyvää kasaria.

👍
View Author
Fri Aug 05 2022
4

Wow this is great, an 80s smash

👍
View Author
Wed Aug 10 2022
4

Really interesting. Like a Scottish 80s Elbow

👍
View Author
Thu Aug 25 2022
4

I'm going to have to listen to this again and reassess if I really like it as much as I did the first go around, but it was really well made. Some songs sounded like what David Bowie would end up doing on his album '1. Outside' a decade later, which any comparison to Bowie is high praise

👍
View Author
Thu Sep 22 2022
4

Prima muziek, maar geen uitschieters.

👍
View Author
Mon Sep 26 2022
4

Very pleasant and relaxing. Not too interesting though, but maybe that's because I didn't pay enough attention.

👍
Load more reviews