Arcadia
So Red The Rose

THE REVIEW

1985. The buzz of a critic labeling Duran Duran as a boyband for teenage girls incapable of playing, and a probable creative fatigue lead to the split of the group. Le Bon (vocals), Rhodes (synth), and Roger Taylor (drums) form Arcadia, and their only work, "So Red The Rose", fully satisfies the need for new stylistic experiences also thanks to contributions from names like Sting, Herbie Hancock, Grace Jones, David Gilmour. The single that precedes the album is "Election Day", elegantly sung with a guitar response, uniform rhythm, and flat bassline (an ironic message to the former bassist?), with continuous synth interventions, and Rhodes as the absolute master of the scene. The next three tracks, clearly bearing the Duran mark, steer the sound towards a dark rock style with strongly marked rhythms, Le Bon's timbre is deep, the sound is clear but betrays unease. It is followed by "Missing", an ethereal and dreamy tune with long reverberated notes. The best parts, however, are in the second half of the album where, after a gloomy intro, the electric guitar (Gilmour's?) suddenly illuminates the scene for "The Promise", a splendid melodic theme with Le Bon and Sting in a duet, piano entrusted to Hancock, sax to Andy Mackay, and a fretless bass line that gently envelops sax and guitar phrases. "El Diablo" sees Rhodes once again, backed by a decisive rhythm, preparing the ground for another excellent melodic idea full of unease, alternating with flute and acoustic guitar solos. Finally, "Lady Ice", dark and melodramatic, with a keyboard progression that leaves one stunned, concludes a decent album overall but rich in sometimes brilliant details, suggestive and surreal images, one of the best works of Le Bon/Rhodes.