Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur and Benge unveil covers album ‘Doublespeak’ — featuring ABBA’s ‘The Visitors’

Vince Clarke, Blancmange frontman Neil Arthur and producer Benge have officially revealed Doublespeak, a new collaborative project built around a full album of reworked songs from across the past four decades.

The self-titled record, due out on 29 May 2026 via London Records, brings together the Erasure co-founder, the voice of Blancmange and the synth specialist behind a long list of electronic productions for an 11-track collection of covers. Among the standout selections is a new take on ABBA’s “The Visitors”, alongside songs originally recorded by Fad Gadget, Young Marble Giants, The Sound, The Carpenters, David Essex, The Magnetic Fields, Thomas Leer and Robert Rental, John Hartford, Ed Dowie and Laptop.

Rather than treating the source material as museum pieces, the trio appear to have used the album as an excuse to tear songs apart and rebuild them through a colder, more modern electronic lens. The result is described as a sleek, synth-led set that moves between post-punk, overlooked cult favourites and bigger pop touchstones.

Clarke said some of the songs felt almost brand new to him, adding that their unfamiliarity made the project especially exciting. He also suggested the album was born from the same spirit that makes hearing other artists reinterpret his own work so rewarding.

“I knew so little about some of these songs that they were like demos to me. They felt like brilliant new songs that you want to get your hands on. I’ve had people do cover versions of my songs and honestly there’s no better tribute. So that’s what we wanted to do here,” says Vince Clarke.

“What’s really stood out for us on this journey is how good these songs are. It’s from doing your own version that you realise what incredible pieces of work they are,” adds Neil Arthur.

The tracklist is split across two sides, opening with “Back to Nature” and “Brand New Life”, and running through to “End Credits.” Other highlights include “I Can’t Escape Myself,” “Goodbye to Love,” “Rock On” and “Smoke and Mirrors.”

Doublespeak will be released in several formats, including CD and vinyl, with a limited green-and-black ripple pressing among the physical editions. Fans ordering early from the project’s official store can also get in ahead of the wider announcement window, while the first 500 orders will include an A5 print signed by Vince Clarke, Neil Arthur and Benge.

For synth-pop fans, it looks like one of the more intriguing side-project releases of the spring — not least because it pairs three veteran electronic names with songs few would have expected to hear on the same album.

‘DOUBLESPEAK’ TRACKLISTING:

• ‘Back To Nature’ (originally by Fad Gadget)
• Brand – New – Life’ (Young Marble Giants)
• The Visitors’ (ABBA)
• ‘I Can’t Escape Myself’ (The Sound)
• ‘Goodbye To Love’ (The Carpenters)
• ‘Rock On’ (David Essex)
• ‘Smoke And Mirrors’ (The Magnetic Fields)
• ‘Day Breaks, Night Heals’ (Thomas Leer and Robert Rental)
• ‘Gentle On My Mind’ (John Hartford)
• ‘Richard!’ (Ed Dowie)
• ‘End Credits’ (Laptop)