A Walk Across The Rooftops

Oh I didn't know The Blue Nile is here that's cool. Hats better be on this list. I like A Walk Across the Rooftops too--I own it on vinyl, and Tinseltown in the Rain is easily at least their third best song. But it's just not as perfect as Hats is.

Never heard of it but quite good 80s synth pop.

A solid album of sophisti-pop that is at times reminiscent of Peter Gabriel (especially in the vocals), with hints of Talking Heads (minus the quirkiness) or even Tears for Fears. There is an openness in some of their songs that invite rewriting and an updating, but the precious bones are there. “Easter Parade” exemplifies this by coming back to crunchy, clustered 4ths and 5ths, almost as if there was a lack of center. Time stops in contemplation: the music succeeds at conveying it. If you play this song in the piano you will see even its jazz potential. This being said, it does not feel like a perfect album, but more like those unfinished madonnas of Michelangelo. Some musical strategies are effective, but somewhat trite (like phrasing verses in minor scales, and then jumping into repetitive major progressions). And yet, although the album falls into some predictability, it has retained some freshness. This is not a mere pop album of the 80s. At times it feels like it’s attempting to create soundscapes instead of traditional songs. It’s quirky, with plenty of open spaces, unclear harmonies, unresolved chord progressions, and it’s sustained with consistent lyricism. 8.5/10

Really good.

Why not?

Een soort huismerk-Peter Gabriel, zoals Cees zou zeggen. Op zich fijne jarentachtig-klanken die de tijd hebben doorstaan. Tegelijkertijd lijken de nummers nogal op elkaar en niks valt bijzonder op. Een goed cijfer omdat het genre me wel ligt, blijkbaar.

I picture this one being perfect for a rainy day, during a quiet moment on vacation, when I want to reminisce and get lost and then found again. Especially Heatwave (Rhythm Mix). I can easily disappear into that one.

When I think of sophista-pop, this is exactly what I think about. I did enjoy this album, quite possibly more than I should have considering it's not "cool" and I am very awesome. There is no upbeat music to be found here but all 7 seven songs are pretty good. What I find most interesting are the instrumental sounds behind the music, as you can tell the band worked hard to make this sound good. Would I hear them in concert? Probably not. Would I put this album on when it's a rainy day out and I'm doing some work around the house or my actual job? Quite possibly I would. Worth a listen.

Sort of like late XTC and Talk Talk mixed together. I felt happy listening to this :) A very nice surprise, might have to check out the rest of their discography.

Very interesting

I like the overall vibe - the album is probably perfect for a rainy afternoon, but I'm going to stop at a 4 because I think it needs the right mood to enjoy fully.

I've heard of this band but never listened them. As soon as I saw that Linn were the label I assumed it would sound great. And it really does, great production and separation of the instruments. Very life like sound! The songs are well put together as well, a couple stood out but I can see why there weren't any major hits. The singer's voice reminds me a lot of David Sylvain's. The songs are quite subtle and down-tempo, nice one to listen to on a rainy day.

To my shock, I really enjoyed this. Especially the first three songs. I thought that the music was incredibly diverse and his singing was different get intriguing and impressive. I really liked the variety of background music with more of a consistent singing.

Very cool very cool

Für die frühen 80er ganz gut…abwechslungsreich, bisschen wie aha…7/10

A weirdly beautiful early indie gem

Sometimes perhaps a bit too mellow and smart for my 80s filling, Blue Nile's A Walk Across the Rooftops is an excellent showing of that warm Summer night part of pop. The moments where the synths feel just subdued enough to be cozy, and the compositions are intricate whilst still having those bits and pieces to make it onto mainstream radio. It isn't a genre I ever thought I'd like, but it seems to constantly be hitting well with me, and this album is no different. The vocals aren't smooth, but it's that odd sounding, mellow-toned 80s gruff-lite that works oh-so-well, and I'm just a fan of the whole thing. It isn't mindblowing stuff, you'll find yourself a little outdone by the songs' long-winded runtimes, but those moments of just enjoying the urban, humid rain that make this album shine; enjoy the feeling as it presents itself, I say.

Sparse beautiful songs about joy and despair.

I liked this; beautiful, clean sound and a haunting voice.

good bass and interesting song writing a sound reminiscent of bowie

Conflicted. It was quite somber and ethereal, so a very melancholy listen. I think it’s 4 territory though as it was quite good.

Fancy '80s pop from Scotland. A Walk Across The Rooftops is pretty and dainty, with gentle synths and strings that gives every song enough space to breathe. Some beautiful stuff in there. Can get a bit boring depending on your tastes but I thought this was exceptional.

That was some nice pop right there. All the songs felt fully fleshed out, nice range of instruments, good stuff.

HL: "Tinseltown in the Rain", "From Rags to Riches", "Stay,", "Heatwave" like Avalon but better June 26, 2024

While I'd never heard or heard of the Blue Nile, and they do sound like most 80s AOR, they do have some experimental vibes and I loved the relatively bare production and lyrics. His voice is great too. Sometimes a bit overwrought but it was the midst of Thatcherism so I get it. I did find it mostly enjoyable and I'd definitely listen again – reminded me of dark rooms in old houses in Paddington, the fruit bats flying out of the dusk.

"A Walk Across the Rooftops" is the debut album by Scottish band by the Blue Nile. The genres assigned are sophisti-pop, synth-pop, ambient and blue-eyed soul. All fit to some extent. The bandmembers included Pat Buchanan (vocals, guitars, synths), Robert Bell (bass, synths) and Paul Joseph Moore (keys, synths). The album was produced by Buchanan and Bell and engineered by Calum Malcolm. The album had little commercial success upon its release but slowly gained sales in the ensuing years and reached #80 in the UK. It also had wide-spread critical acclaim. The self-titled "A Walk Across the Rooftops" opens the album. A slow opening, ambient, a drum beat with synth noises. The synths picks up the pace and sounds like footsteps. Dramatic vocals from Buchanan. He's in love. With a girl? With a city? Both? The next song "Tinseltown in the Rain" makes doubt that's it's and ode to Glasgow. A faster pace song. Piano synths. A jangly guitar. Strings added too. "Stay" is a little more pop. Layered synths with a catchy melody. Buchanan repeating "Stay, I will understand you." It's a pleasant song. He's begging a woman to stay. The album closer "Automoblie Noise" has a mechanical beat. Actually, a few songs on this album do as well. A melodic, dreamy piano/synth. The song is very stark. I think he's trying to mimick the never ending bustle/burden cycle of daily life. This album is atmospheric, subtle and pleasant. It's also electronic and very synth-oriented. Most of these songs are long with the music slowly building. There's space between the music and Buchanan's vocals. And Buchanan is a very good and dramatic lead singer. This is a really good album especially in that 80's synth-pop genre.

Trabajo súper interesante. Nunca lo había escuchado y me gustó. Tiene melodías y armonías originales con esa vibra ochentera sintética pero sin llegar a ser plástica.

Interesante mezcla de sonidos. Bastante experimental y no excesivamente largo. No puedo decir que me haya fascinado con algo nuevo, pero sí es verdad que tiene piezas en las que la conjunción de sonidos es muy agradable y resulta super interesante, por lo que finalmente me ha llamado la atención por la parte experimental. Es bonito de escuchar

This was a pretty solid listen. I never hears of them prior but I enjoyed it.

Amazing

This lot are severely underrated. This and Hats are both first-rate, finely wrought, richly humane, and offering emotional depth. The lyrics are thoughtful and uniquely evocative of specific moods and frames of mind, of an individual life, basically. The vocals are great. "Tinseltown in the Rain" is hopeful and melancholic at the same time, seems a triumph over melancholy in a way, a conscious and carefully taken decision to carry on. "Stay" is joyous, the sound of love-happiness. "Automobile Noise" makes for an artful and elegant close. One gets that not everyone will get such a quietly observed slice-of-life sort of record; but for those with whom this resonates, it resonates profoundly and intensely, for all its restraint and quietude.

Can definitely hear how this inspired a lot of modern indie, must’ve been a strong influence. It is space, and I like all the songs but don’t necessarily love any of them. 8/10

Great background music.

Interesting. And not bad. I actually really liked this album

Great music for a shitty day

Warm production and mesmerising melodies, a winning combination.

This wasn't too bad. I quite liked it. I saw the reviews and braced myself for the something bad. But this was pleasantly surprising.

Interesting listen. Not what I expected. Give it a try.

Actually a pretty dope album! It’s simple and delicate but each sound and note feels very intentional to create a really catchy and interesting record. 8/10

Feel like I heard something from this band back in the day, but there were a lot of bands trying this smooth new wave at the time. This is actually a really great example of the style. Tinseltown in the Rain is catchy in that perfectly 80s pop song way. This whole record could be the soundtrack for an offbeat 80s movie. Rags to Riches is a clear influence on the band Underworld. There is a lot about the song structure here that would come back again and again. You could put Stay on the radio right now and people would lose their minds. Easter Parade sounds like a Peter Gabriel song. This record is a lot better than expected. Really pretty melodies, not too loud, not too much of anything. Nice, calm, well crafted music, that is enjoyable to listen to. Interesting, complex, unexpected, sophisticated and yet, a toe-tapper.

Pretty good

This was such a cool surprise. I'd never heard of this band or album. I really liked the first few tracks but it got a bit boring towards the end.

Another pleasant surprise! Not even sure what to expect from this band I’d never heard of, but I got strong Kate Bush/80s John Cale vibes, mixed with the last couple of Talk Talk albums. Spare jazzy grooves and impressionistic vocals make for some solid art pop, definitely exploring more from this band.

I had never heard of this band and legit looked up.if David Byrne somehow had a side project I inexplicably didn’t know about. This is the shit I signed up for. I liked it a lot.

Very much of an album. Very liked.

4/5

- Unexpectedly really into this groove. Am really into the first four tracks as well as "Heatwave" -- not feeling "Easter Parade" as much, though I like it more than the other versions of this type of track I have heard. (Feels less pretentious?) - Adore "Tinseltown in the Rain" and "Stay." These synthesizers and other electronic elements, including the percussion, are mesmerizing. - This had to have been an influence on The Killers (especially Brandon Flowers).

I like the minor key sounding love song but what really sold me was walking in the rain watching the sun on the space needle listening while listening to Tinseltown in the rain

Another band I had never heard of before this challenge, and I am genuinely glad I have now discovered them. A Walk Across the Rooftops has such a moody, atmospheric sound. It feels spacious and slightly melancholic, but never dull. The production is very eighties, yet in a restrained and elegant way rather than over the top. Tinseltown in the Rain is a brilliant track and easy to see why it became one of their best known songs. It has that sweeping, emotional feel that really pulls you in. Stay is another highlight for me. Subtle, heartfelt and beautifully arranged. I really enjoyed the album as a whole. It feels cohesive and carefully crafted, and it has definitely made me curious to dive deeper into their catalogue. Favourite song: Tinseltown in the Rain Least favourite song: None that stood out negatively Album artwork: A great cover. Very eighties, but stylish and perfectly matched to the music

Unexpectedly great!

Cool and synthetic but heartfelt. Love it

This is very much my vibe, classy weird 80s pop

First time hearing closely that type of music. Which is like, experimental 80s pop, soft new wave? Anyway, the combining soft instruments leaving all the place to the mediocre voice kinda ruins the whole thing and the lyrics arent that good. Still, some songs were pretty heartfelt and some short segments are actually 5/5 when the music and voice picks up. Was gonna give it a bad rating but the weirdness grew on me 4/5

A Jewel of the Nile for certain! It’s a short playing album, but I have listened in loop for four times now. Huge surprise! This is what I have hoped to find more of when I decided to start this journey.

I feel like I shouldn't like this as much as I did. The vocals really don't appeal to me, but there was something in the music that pleased me enough.

These songs certainly aren't hummable and the vocals have a Bryan Ferry quality that I don't love, but it was a nice, meditative listen.

I was starting to get turned off by the title track and opening of this album, but as it progressed I started to enjoy the vibe more and more.

Quite interesting, David Bowie vibes, not as ambient as I expected from the description but very enjoyable

This is definitely something that will take multiple listens to fully appreciate. On first listen there are some really great tunes, with a couple that fall flat. I really like the production and the ambient synth noises in the background. The synths and the vocals remind me a lot of Berlin/80's era David Bowie. On first listen I would give this a 3.5, but I can see this easily going to a solid 4 on further listens.

Really dug the production on this. It sounds kind of like a sound demo at times but honestly… kinda works for me. Singers voice isn’t anything special and the songwriting is bleh but, the production makes it a 3.5 leaning 4.

Sounds good - I never knew them!

Synths? Yes!

Four stars because I absolutely love the song “Heatwave.” Really enjoyed listening to this on a moody rainy city drive yesterday. A lot of the songs do sound like the same formula as Heatwave but not as strong.

Je décèle (à raison?) une influence de Peter Gabriel. Un album qui me séduit par son côté insaisissable. J'ai écouté une version double sur Apple Music, certaines reprises dans le 2e album m'ont tannée, mais à la première écoute j'étais plus réceptive.

Good one, and all new to me. Definitely needs more listens.

Admittedly, I usually am a bit nervous whenever I get an album where I’ve never even heard of the artist; I have no idea what the genre will be before I listen, much less if I will enjoy it or not. I was very pleasantly surprised by this; despite having had absolutely no idea what to expect, this album surprised me with how good it was. It’s interesting, experimental, and genuinely excellent. How have I never heard of this before?

A new discovery (for me). This is soft, melodious, yet expansive. So many influences stem from here. I will return.

Peter Gabriel vibes “Sophista-pop” GLESGA

great stuff, and some wonderful ambient adjacent pop, but its missing the amazing songs of there other album, Hats

So very 80s. Loved it.

Wow. What a beautiful album. This music never came close to my listening experience. I am pleased to learn of it now, and thank this web site for the exploration.

I thought I was listening to Peter Gabriel at times.... I don't know these guys. I like Peter Gabriel so them reminding me of him was a plus for them. Standouts: A Walk Across The Rooftops, Tinseltown in the Rain, From Rags to Riches, Easter Parade, Heatwave. I Love This Life (Bonus Material). 4/5

What is this bass? It's so good. Epitome of adult music. There is nothing childish at play here.

Never heard of this band before but it was a nice surprise!

Tinsel Town in the rain is a classic Great album, great vibes 4

Neato

Leaning more towards good than meh

I thought Hats was their big album - never even heard of this one. New Romantic sounding but also kid of a jazzy post rock. Of the time maybe production wise but very cool!

It's ultra 80s, it's ultra new wave but it also sounds very unique within that genre for some reason. A lot of new wave albums on this list use a variety of orchestral instruments and electronic sounds but I guess I hadn't ever heard them put together in this way. There are a couple dull spots like the last track and rags to riches but there are also quite a few bright spots like tinseltown in the rain. To be honest, I wasn't super engaged by this album overall but the production was so interesting I enjoyed it for that alone.

I've never heard of this band or album, but I really enjoyed it!

Not an ordinary record and sound - the sparse arrangements in some of the songs is quite Interesting and so is Paul Buchanan’s vocal style and phrasing - although it’s quite samey throughout the record and can border on the tiresome. But… it’s not a long record and it’s unique and the songs are pretty cool. Nice surprise.

Good. weird I think very very 80s.

This album owns, super chill and enjoyable.

I had no idea what to expect, but this has some pretty cool big 80s sounds. It manages to be both really mellow and also mixed in a way that gives all instruments their respective limelight. It's not afraid to be bass / keys / percussion heavy, which is something often missing in modern production. I feel like this could grow on me more and more (or maybe not :D), but I'm not mad. Not bad, not bad.

This went unexpectedly hard. It was like Talk Talk (last 2 albums) with some Seinfeld music influence. I'll be coming back to this one for sure

Sounds like Peter Gabriel on Valium. Pretty cool and interesting take!

Very nice art-pop offering with subtle arrangements and texture that gives a glimpse of a progressive electronic aspect. It's a true 3.5 to me, let's give it 4 as I'm glad for this new discovery.

3.8 Actually really like this album. It's very So era Peter Gabriel (just a bit more mid). I'm a fan of the grandiose songs and Tinseltown in the Rain was a big fave of mine a few years ago. Fave songs: A Walk Across The Rooftops, Tinseltown in the Rain, Stay

Scottish folk ambient from 1984 that sounds timeless and reminds me a bit of Peter Gabriel. Fave tracks Tinseltown In The Rain and From Rags To Riches

Yeah, really liked this - made me think of Talk Talk when they were starting to get experimental but hadn't gotten too far yet. Talk Talk's "The Colour of Spring" is in roughly the same ballpark, so I reckon this was an influence on them. Feels like it could have been an influence on the emergence of slowcore, too! Fave tracks - "Heatwave" for optimism, "Automobile Noise" for melancholy...

Reminded me of Talk Talk “Colors of Spring,” except this album came out two years earlier. Hats off to Blue Nile.

liked this a bit more than i've expected myself to do

I really like this. Hadn't previously heard.

listened to 1 song before the website freaked out on me and gave me the next album but honestly it was quite nice. This is the right way to do chill music. Also "A Walk Across The Rooftops" is a fantastic name.

Some great stuff, some boring stuff.

Yeah good, easy to listen to

I quite liked this.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. Real easy listening but still fun to listen to, and the singer has a great voice to, like a midway point between Bono, Sting, and Dave Matthews

super cool. some songs gave the same vibe as a slow Springsteen song

Really enjoyed it. Tinseltown in the rain is fantastic. The rest doesn't quite match up, but still a good listen

A Walk Across the Rooftops by The Blue Nile is a captivating and atmospheric album that defines the band's distinct sound. Released in 1984, it introduced the world to their unique blend of synth-pop and art rock influences. Tracks like "Tinseltown in the Rain" and "Stay" showcase the band's emotive songwriting and Paul Buchanan's haunting vocals. The album's production is rich and ethereal, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that draws listeners in. While it may not be as well-known as some of their later works, A Walk Across the Rooftops remains a mesmerizing and beautifully crafted album. It's a hidden gem that deserves recognition for its timeless and evocative sound.

Never heard of these guys before. Liked it, would listen again.

I've never heard of this band, and I was really pleasantly surprised by this album. It's immersive and moody, it's not too sonic-ally busy, it's unique, and it comes in at under 39 minutes. I could listen to this again and again.

I've never heard of The Blue Nile, and all of the music from A Walk Across The Rooftops was new to me. I could hear the age of this album (early 80s) as I listened. The music reminded at times of Simple Minds, David Bowie, and even talking heads. There was some loneliness in the music that reminded me of some of the not so new-wavey, new wave - not so reliant on electronic, fabricated sounds. For a melancholic record, this album was a happy surprise. The music isn't particularly unique, and I'm not sure how to describe it, but there was something for me to listen to. I felt like I had listened to something with substance when I was done. To make sure, after finishing it the first time I turned around and listened to the album again.

Polished, intelligent and mature carefully crafted beautiful pop. Like a less avant-garde Talk Talk. Very slick and I can hear why these guys are adored by critics. Not sure I’m going to listen often enough for 4 stars, but it is very well executed. Ok then, 4.

A walk across the rooftops: what am I listening to?? Very David bowie but with a lot more silent spots everywhere Tinsletown in the rain: this one is better than the last song for me From rags to riches: even better. Like bubbly and poppy and plucking sounds, very fun little energy guy Stay: good vibes overall. Would be happy if it showed up on my shuffle at probably any point in time Easter parade: very peaceful, this album so far is very much what I was hoping to hear today so im very pleased. Heatwave: very good Automobile noise: again very good This is really good for me. Basically a much more peaceful and less chaotic David bowie sound. 4 stars. It could be 5, but im happy giving it a 4

Альбом понравился. Очень напоминало Piter Gabriel...

Quiet, gentle, fragile sophisti-pop from The Blue Nile's debut. Something grey and dreary captured here, quite beautifully rendered. Smart and will surely reward repeat listens.

Beautiful record with lots of pretty sounds and moods. A very nice vocal with introspective lyrics. But it’s somewhat of a moody record I need to have a specific feel to put on. 7,5 out of 10

Cinematic. Suiting a sunny Saturday afternoon very well. I know for a fact without looking that the band Guillemots absolutely love this record. Loving tracks 1,3,5,6 Spirit of Eden comes to mind, although that is undoubtedly a level above. The more formulaic 80s groovers that are also here are not bad, but far less interesting. This is absolutely the sort of album I'm doing this list for and found it very enjoyable. Might well check out one or two of the other Blue Nile records recommended.

Stellar debut. But there's a feeling that they are locating the Blue Nile special spot: not too eighties synth-pop (Stay); not too piano ballad (Easter Parade) - but a goldilocks zone of mournful, funereal rolling (Automobile Noise and the amazing Heatwave which emerges from this listen as the track from this album, setting the tone for the masterpiece that would follow). 4.4.

As I look into my baby's eyes, I see her sadness. She goes swimming 6 times a week and can barely perform a competent breaststroke. She's slightly overweight and can't see that it doesn't matter to me, in fact, I'm into chubby women, I like their big fat tits bouncing in front of me.

Enjoyable album. Relaxing with good instrumentation and vocals

I enjoyed this a lot more than expected. There are a lot of elements of that kind of 80s pop production that usually annoy me but everything worked together perfectly here, and the songs were really well written and developed

Thoughtful, considered, excellent musician

This has been on my radar for a while and I understand why. Very pretty music, almost Peter Gabriel-ish, and anything that reminds me of PG is worth a thumbs up in my eyes. B

A wonderfully crafted post-punk/new wave album.

This was good. The opening track is a bold choice. I like this more than I expected. But. Why are 2 of the first 10 albums Scottish Synth? Lol

Okay, little dark, but great 80’s tracks!

so different, pieces of unique music bound together with other pieces of unique music. Vocals are smooth and inviting. So unpredictable and interesting.

I will admit, I was not too hopeful when I read the Wiki description, which lists it as "Scottish sophisti-pop/ambient". Thankfully, labels aren't everything, and it resulted in a really interesting album. I will admit, I'm pretty biased as I typically love the 80's synth-y sound. I was still very surprised to find that this album held up throughout. It reminds me of a Psychedelic Furs/Thompson Twins vibe, without being a copycat. Loved the overall sound and I feel like his voice fits in perfectly. The only thing it's missing is a true standout 'hit', but there wasn't a bad song on the album imo. Nothing was added yet, but I will be re-listening and adding 2-3 for sure. 8/10

Higlight: From Rags To Riches

What an unexpected gem! I really liked this one and had not heard it before. It has a kind of Peter Gabriel vocals meets the music of Kate Bush’s 80s albums. I will be revisiting this one often.

The songwriting was missing a bit of something, more catchy choruses or dynamics, but album has a beautiful sound throughout and that’s what sold me!

Really interesting. Sounds like this is where LCD Soundsytem got their sound.

La performance du chanteur est totalement éclipsée par les lignes de basse ultra-charismatiques. Il n'y a pas de hasard, c'est moi-même qui en tiens le manche et fais étalage de ma technique, sous le regard agacé des différents membres.

3 to a 4 just for Stay.

This was a very interesting album. Kind of a mix of avant-garde and electronica. I wouldn't call it prog but I could hear shades of Bowie in his voice. Some of the songs sounded like just noise. But the more I listened, the more subtle patterns started to emerge. I really had to listen to it twice to really get a handle on what I was hearing. I think this one is an acquired taste where you have to be in the right mood to enjoy it. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - I enjoyed listening to it but wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.

Somewhat of a challenge on first listen, but overall a good album. definite 80's feel all through

Ett av listans bästa fynd! Stark 4

Very enjoyable listen. The vocals reminded me of Thom Yorke and David Bowie blended together. Great bass lines and a wide variety of tunes. Overall a pretty sweet album. I'm surprised such a low key album was produced at the height of the new romantic era. Well there you go. I actually just listened to this twice in a row.... Not many of the 1001 have this on the stats list!

Great album!

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

Prima muziek, maar geen uitschieters.

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

Really interesting. Like a Scottish 80s Elbow

Wow this is great, an 80s smash

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Very Peter Gabriel

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

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.

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

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

popzinho das antiga

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

Yeah this one was good i like it

le titre de l'album est particulièrement bien choisi

3.5

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

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.

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

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

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.

Some lines are super sticky

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

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"

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

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

Ok, dit kende ik niet en was geweldig!

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.

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

NICE 80´S

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.

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.

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.

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.

Absolutely amazing

Pop dream fun

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

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

hans ohni netz glost aber isch irgendwie no cool? sie hend viel peter gabriel glost glaub. aber s isch au chli cool? checks nöd emfall.

More music that isn't really for me. I recognize Tinseltown in the Rain though. Not into jazzy pop music, but like most of these records, I can recognize the artistry.

Ok

This was a nice something different that was pretty pleasant. I enjoyed the quieter tracks much less than the others, mostly because the tracks that were really full were places I wanted to stay in for a while. Like “Heatwave,” I did not want that to end. Whole album sounded very experimental for its time, too, I liked how forward-thinking it was.

I found this album really frustrating because it has all the building blocks of something I would be really into but it just can’t get over the finish line, much like Style Council’s Cafe Bleu, which came out like a month earlier. I can see the influence of Peter Gabriel in this one, and I can see the influence of this whole sophisti-pop wave on Richard Hawley’s stuff. I gave both of those 5s but this is just kind of a good workmanlike album that gives me something I could get a better version of elsewhere.

14. avgust 2026. 14.59h it was okej, volim 80s muziku i zvuk ali ovaj album me je fr natjerao da potrazim koji su bili kriterijumi za albume koje moras da poslusas

pretty alright. stay and heatwave were fun listens. 6.6/10

Fine, I dunno.... didn't grab me....maybe I'll go back

I liked this! Second half kinda different than the first - high 3

Genuine background music

Interesting stuff, not that memorable tbh

Meh

I love Hats by the Blue Nile but I've never listened to this one. I was a bit disappointed by the opening track, then Tinseltown in the Rain played and I loved that track. From rags to riches was whatever, I was waiting for that to end. It's overall a decent album. I wouldn't necessarily rush to own it on vinyl but I liked it.

This is very ok. Nothing offensive but nothing interesting.

The compliment I'd give this is that it seemed to me to be ahead of its time. By this I mean that this album from the mid 1980s sounded a lot like a bunch of artists from the mid 2000s. It's that somewhat ethereal sounding indie folk stuff. To be honest, I find the style quite dull.

oh this is the band that was referenced in that taylor swift song

Glad to get a other cool Scottish band recommendation. Very interesting sound but I can tell it's the type of album that will need a couple more listens before I can settle on my feelings. Will be coming back to it.

Liked this, nice to hear Paul Buchanan before Mid Air

Some interesting experimental sounds. VERY 80s tho

Minst sagt experimentellt på gott och ont. Hade inte satt på detta men det är samtidigt intressant att lyssna på. Solid 6/10

A walk across the folk rivers of yore.

The Blue Nile pop up every now and again on playlists I randomly stick on – usually of Scottish or just Glasgow based bands. They have some decent tunes, but a full album of them might be a bit much for me. I think I probably like the idea of this more than I do the album. It's my era certainly, and has some nice moments. Interesting to see the recursively named Calum Malcom's involvement and Castlesound being used – both names I associate more with Runrig – and I certainly prefer this to the countless Bowie albums that have been thrown at me. But I don't like that much. I'd listen again certainly, but only occasionally.

3.5

Some nice, experimental tunes I wouldn't have expected from the 80s.

Es muy chill, emocionante y atmosférico, me ha gustado. Me recuerda un poco a lo que harán mas tarde The Hours (solo que ellos sin ningún exito).

Another fun new wave album, so much more out there than I realized

During the majority of my listening, I felt off. It took me a while to figure out why that was - I realized that the singer sounded (to me) like he was trying to imitate Bowie, but he wasn't doing a great job at it.

Weirdly captivating and incredibly glad to be able to experience something completely new to me like this. Some tracks are obvious standouts like Tinseltown in the Rain and Automobile Noise but as much as I enjoyed this (particularly compared to other people on here) I will concede that several tracks struggle to form unique identities and feel like they bleed into each other. Albums like this desperately make me wish I could give .5 ratings because I’d give this a firm 3.5 if I could. I don’t love it enough for a 4/5 though, sadly.

fine

Absolutely just ok.

So… somehow I came across this a few years ago. Spotify sent me down a Scottish rabbit hole because I was having a Frightened Rabbit fest. Btw are FR on the list? No. They’re on the user list. The Midnight Organ Fight. Good addition. That’d be my choice. Anyway, I actually ended up listening to this album. I enjoyed it and left it behind. Listening to it again that’s my feeling - again. It’s good - but why is it here? In perusing others reviews I realize we all have our own criteria for rating and agreeing/ disagreeing with the inclusion of some album on some list of important-albums-to-hear as a music lover/connoisseur. I personally appreciate albums that aren’t necessarily obvious. But they should demonstrate something remarkable in their production, their writing, their music, or their future influence. Slint’s Spiderland isn’t for everyone. But its cult status and influence are undeniable. By this standard, I would argue for more Elliott Smith, less Adele on the list. Adele’s 25 doesn’t do anything new that wasn’t already done on 21. 21 is enough. Elliott on the other hand, whether you like him or not, is an extraordinary song writer with a matching influence. I would argue that much is to be gained from following his progression from Heatmiser through his own career, from a song writing tutorial standpoint, personal enjoyment aside. Which brings me back here. On another day, I might give this a 4 from a personal perspective. But months into this project and I can’t say it deserves better than a 3 in this rating system. And it certainly does not belong on the list. 3 Boolean: FALSE

Never heard of these guys before, which is for some reason, a bit surprising. Too absent-minded this morning to properly soak it in, so I'll try to give it another spin at work this morning. Quite enjoyable 80s stuff, really not bad at all so probably easy 3 stars, but at the same time this is not super my cup of tea so I am afraid no more than 3! I could see myself listening to this though why not.

Es klingt wie ein nächtlicher Blick über eine leere Stadt: kühl, elegant, distanziert. Die Blue Nile bauen eine Atmosphäre, die beeindruckt, aber manchmal auch zu sehr im Nebel bleibt. Stark in Stimmung, schwächer in Dynamik.

This one's alright. We have another 80s British sophisti-pop album on our hands for today. This isn't the worst of the bunch, but it's certainly not the best either. I did like it though. The production is a little dated, but there are some elements that I really liked to it, namely the bass on the first few songs. The vocals are solid. I don't have any issues with them. The writing is good, I will say that. "Tinseltown in the Rain" is a pretty good song. I might be crazy for saying this, but the instrumental for "Stay" kinda reminds me of Kraftwerk at times. I like it. I don't really have a ton to say about this album, but none of what I have to say is particularly negative, so I guess I'd call the album good. Apparently this album's followup, Hats, is better than this album, so maybe they should've chosen that one over this. I wouldn't know though. I've never heard it. For now, I feel okay about the Blue Nile. Solid 3/5.

*1984. *This was a very pleasant surprise - U2, Peter Gabriel vibe, with a touch of Talk Heads occasionally. *A little two synthy and 80s to score more than a 3 of 5 though. *These are long songs (5-6 mins each), but it works as an album. RATING - 7/10

An okay album, I liked From Rags to Riches the most.

Quirky but not brilliant

It was ok, but for the time it was not as good as other bands who nailed this sound. They feel more like an 80's cover band that decided to write their own music.

I feel like there’s a lot of potential here, but many of the songs drag on and I tend to lose interest in them. 3/5

Bom álbum, parece ter sido influente nos primórdios do rock.

Definitely enjoyed how weird this got at some point. There is certainly more to this than the 80s sheen that coats most of these tracks; I can hear real artistry in this one. Favorites: Tinseltown In The Rain, From Rags To Riches, Stay

I don't think I've heard any of these songs. While the 80's production and synth everything grate my nerves, I have to admit I really enjoyed the mood of this record. In fact, I hear a lot of Kaputt era Destroyer in this, and that's essentially what I'm looking for from this type of record. Keep the songwriting, keep the sad disco vibes, but use more live instruments and less gated reverb. So this comes very close to a record I can fully embrace, but rather I see and appreciate what they're going for, and I'm glad others could build off it.

Hmm, never heard of this band despite being quite familiar with 80s UK acts. Let me look them up... "The Blue Nile's highest chart placement came when "Tinseltown in the Rain" reached No. 28 in the Netherlands in 1984,". Right. So... Notable? Not sure about that. Pleasant enough.

I hadn't heard of The Blue Nile before, and they sound like a new wave band that isn't quite as over-the-top as the genre's best-known acts. There isn't much to say about *A Walk Across The Rooftops* - I like the distinctive bass sound on the title track, and the other songs are generally okay. Solid.

Really cool but the production ruins it a bit

Enjoyed this one much more than expected. Good stuff.

mildly interesting

I'm not into new wave, but this record left me with something smooth, sweet, and lovely.

Solid

It was ok. Wouldn’t have ever listened it otherwise and glad I have.

Influence of both David Bowie and Talking Heads is obvious. I love both so it makes sense that I enjoyed this too though I’d struggle to recall any of the songs as particular stand outs as soon as it ended….

This album sits in the very strange middle space between great music and ambient soundscapes. I found myself working too hard to appreciate the lyrics and gave up. So, more ambient soundscape in the long run.

Quite enjoyed FROM RAGS TO RICHES, felt like a jaunt through a space forest. A 2nd listen helped me appreciate the texture. Some really cool guitar insertions.

Empezó muyy bien, me venía re gustando, pero no me acuerdo en qué canción cambió y se puso re denso y aburrido, igualmente siguió estando bien. Son álbumes que gustan, pero no me van a cambiar la vida.

Me da una vibra parecida a Depeche Mode pero no tan electronico y con menos levante que Depeche. No me atrapo mucho en realidad, la voz del cantante no me llamo la atencion, el sonido y el ambiente no me hacen meterme en la cancion, le falta fuerza para usar tantos sonidos que deberian de captar la atencion. Sin dudas es una banda importante del genero New Wave o Pop pero no me gusta tanto como otros exponentes, hay algo que es constante en las canciones que es el ritmo de la misma no tiene grandes variaciones, es como un set en loop y eso me parece dificil de llevar a cabo en una cancion escrita. Top Picks: 1 - Stay (Por lejos la mejor) 2 - Tinseltown in the Rain (Es lo que refleja el album. tristeza y un ambiente desolado con ruidos) 3 - I Love this Life (La cancion mas movida, me gusto mucha, tipica cancion de Radio para escuchar como Old Hit, me suena mucho a una cancion de Keane que se llama Perfect Symetry

5/10

Meh. This was fine but nothing jumped out at me.

Fine I suppose!

High on fidelity, low on tunes.

Some decent new wave/pop stuff, pretty forgettable but it's a nice listen

Pretty boring. Nothing bad but nothing good either. Fine background music.

Interesting, enjoyed it most of the time! Sad boy music. But gets kinda repetitive in melody

An enjoyable listen that's most interesting feature is similarities with Bowie

80s pop music is the best pop music. Rode the line of familiar and catchy but different enough to be unique and interesting, close to a 4 for me but not quite

3.5 Tinseltown in the rain is the standout. Sound quality/engineering/producing is pretty darn good.

Scottish band I would listen to this again but I felt that it was really hard to get into this album. Felt it was forgettable

Being Scottish, I’ve long known the legend of The Blue Nile and their reputation for appearing on the same mysterious schedule as cicadas. I finally gave "A Walk Across The Rooftops" a listen, and yeah, it's definitely an 80s record, kinda on the edge of its own problems. It leans into that sophisti-pop thing, or even fancy smooth jazz, which can come off as a bit much or just old. There's this feel to it, all polished and held back, which some will think is boring, others will see as cool, atmospheric minimalism. Even with those occasional slow songs, the production really gets to you. The bass on the title track and the rainy feel of "Tinseltown In The Rain" make this a unique, late-night city vibe (honestly, I'm 99% sure this inspired Deacon Blue's "Raintown" album), and "Heatwave" is the highlight of the whole album. It's one of those albums that people either hate or love, but it does capture a certain 80s feeling. Not every song is a winner, but Paul Buchanan's vocals make it worth checking out.

Pretty cool new wave sound, didn’t hate this. Glad it ended before I got tired of it.

Folky, but not my favourite cup a tea

Much preferred this when it was ambient, the cheesy 80s production does it no favours

(2.75)

Very good album! "Stay" was one of my favourites.

This was kind of an unexpected solid album if I’m looking at the reviews. Seems like the idea of it pissed some people off but I didn’t hate it personally.

Enjoyable, but utterly forgettable music

Ah, yes. Immaculate 80s vibes that sound like something straight out of the Goldbergs. What's not to love? I'm being only slightly sarcastic by the way.

Nile

I liked this weird little album. Some parts were a bit draggy but others sounded great. 3.5

pretentious and a little much sometimes but overall enjoyed it and would revisit 3 stars

At times I really enjoyed this album but I just felt each song was really repetitive. Later songs were less enjoyable. Overall if there was a 1/2 star I'd give it 3.5

First listened to this a few years ago having heard only good things about. The vocals are great but registering to it again I did feel that after the first two tracks (A Walk Across The Rooftops and Tinseltown in the Rain) are a tough challenge for the rest of the album to live up to. A lot of comments favouring this album are from people for whom it evokes nostalgic memories, I have no such connections to this music as I first listened to it almost forty years after it came out. I actually probably enjoyed the OMD album for it's slow burning power more than this, this is more brilliant but in some ways today it just didn't grab me as I thought it might. A strong 3

Buen disco, como para pasar el rato.

I would like this a lot more if they had fun on even one track. I'm not saying they need a dancy pop hit or anything, it's just hard to take the oppressive melancholy of the album seriously when there's no respite from it. You need a couple highs to appreciate the lows I guess? Since they've clearly listened to a lot of Peter Gabriel, I'll just say they need a Sledgehammer.

Not sure why this is considered sophistipop. I think of music much smoother than this. It does have the 80s pop feel though. I can hear some influence of some of the slower songs of Gabriel's fourth album two years earlier. Not sure if I totally get into this on first listen, but I found it interesting at least (6.8) ★★★

I'm not normally a sophistipop guy, but this is a good bit cooler than stuff like Scritti Politti and the Style Council. Paul Buchanan has an interesting David Byrne-esque vocal delivery that makes the whole thing sound like the Talking Heads decided to make Roxy Music's *Avalon*. There's a couple songs I don't love, which hurts a 7 track album, but "Stay" and "Heatwave" are cool. 3.5 stars.

It's fine, solid

Kind of meh. I guess this is what it sounds like to my partner when I listen to Joni Mitchell.

I like a few Blue Nile songs, mostly from the follow-up Hats, but it’s just never a world I want to spend that much time in. But, I admire what they were able to accomplish - it’s such a thoroughly deliberate sound - and find their embrace by later generations charming, even winsome.

Buen sonido

Not bad

I get the feeling that these guys are the only 80’s band that didn’t at least try doing coke before hitting record. The songs themselves weren’t bad, but they were all monotonous and some were simply too long.

The bass tone is sweet and the bassist is doing some pretty interesting things. Overall an easy listen. Not sure I'll remember much of it, but it's not too bad.

A bit different indie music. Not sure how to describe it. I didn't connect to it, but it wasn't bad

A walk across the rooftops - 3 Tinseltown in the rain - 4 From rags to riches - 3 Stay - 4 Easter parade - 3 Heatwave - 3 Automobile noise - 3

2.6 2x

It was advertised as sparse, and that’s exactly what it was. The vocals were really good, but the artistic direction taken on this album wasn’t really for me.

Reminds me of David Byrne and Prefab Sprout, never heard of them

I enjoyed the album, remembering it was of a time when pretentious lyrics were omnipresent.

I liked it. I dont listen to much 80s music but this was not bad to listen to.

Talented Scottish outfit championed by Peter Gabriel. The album is, solid front to back but nothing worth being in the 1001 🤷‍♂️

It was enjoyable but not an album that will stick with me for very long.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this, much more complex than I expected.

3.5

Un álbum donde las dos primeras canciones son muy buenas, lo cual hace que te agarre una gran decepción cuando escuchás los tres siguientes temas luego de venir pasándola bien, para que termine siendo salvado por las últimas dos. Mediocre. ↑: A Walk Across the Rooftops, Tinseltown in the Rain, Heatwave ↓: From Rags to Riches, Easter Parade

Not bad, of it's time...Surprised it didn't do better

This snuck up to a 3 based solely on the bass player

I had previously listened to 'The Hat', maybe it's called. I think I might like this band. I hear Talk Talk very strongly in this particular release, with a whole bunch of other musical flavors thrown in.

Some strange artsy '80s stuff like if a new wave band had an identity crisis-slash-artistic calling and then made a collaboration with Brian Eno It feels engaging and it offers some pretty and unique musical experiences, but it also leaves me feeling like I want more out of it, maybe some more diversity and experimentation... until the procedure successfully turns it into Another Green World II Much worth a listen, though

5.5/10

At times is interesting, at times boring

Not a standout

What U2 wants to sound like.

No está nada mal, alguna que otra canción me ha gustado bastante y es todo bastante impredecible. No hay nada que no me haya convencido, puede ser un disco que en determinado momento pueda volver a escuchar

I suspected by the cover art and the song names that this was gonna be some lost 80s experimental pop. The drums don't sound tooooo 80s, but then that slap bass comes in (dead giveaway). To my surprise this depressed singer has actually caught my ear a few times! This record has grown on me, there's some catchy hooks and cool bleeps and bloops in here. Wouldn't say no to a re-listen.

‘A Walk Across the Rooftops’ is very spare. Every note, vocal, and lyric is considered and deliberate. Heavy, dripping with atmosphere, longing, and melancholy, with an intimate, cinematic quality. It’s still worth listening to, even if it’s an album I’ve always admired rather than truly adored.

Particular, tiene un par de hits muy interesantes, creo que me quedo con uno que se llamaba Heatwave No creció tanto en mi, pero si sé que tiene mucha relevancia específicamente en el sonido del Reino Unido

This sure doesn't sound like something from the early 80s. The craftsmanship on the bass and the rest of the studio engineering are pristine - certainly worth listening on good headphones. The writing is a little bit free-form prog, with the meandering of earnest adolescent romance. Again, I can't believe how anachronous the production sounds, like an ambient folk time traveler from an unidentified decade dropped off a copy of this CD and it got re-pre-released decades ago.

Jazz

One of those quintessentially 80s albums that seems to have a sort of quietly mythical status — the kind people speak about in hushed tones, like it’s some lost holy text of synth‑laden melancholy. And fair play, I can see why it’s revered. It’s all atmosphere: neon lights reflected in rainy pavements, lonely bus rides, that sort of thing. But for me? It didn’t quite land. There’s a certain elegance to it, sure, but it’s the kind of elegance you admire from a distance rather than properly feel. I know Steve Hogarth bangs on about The Blue Nile in his Invisible Man diaries, and you can definitely hear little shades of his vocal phrasing in there — that tender, airy croon drifting over big emotional spaces. Beyond that, though… I don’t really have a strong opinion. It never offended me, never wowed me. It just sort of… happened.

Good

You are the sunshine of my life 3/5

An oddly soothing, yet downbeat album, mainly helped along by how the backing instrumentals and sound effects are produced. It almost makes me nostalgic for a decade I never got to experience. Kind of wears on you the further along it runs, however.

Not bad, I really like the bass. The lyrics are good. I enjoyed a few of these songs. Probably wouldn't ever seek it out but not bad.

This is like if Dave Mathews got a little more experimental. It was an interesting journey, albeit one I'll only take once

Quite forgettable, not really a standout. Not horrible to listen to either. 3/5