1985. Il tam tam di una critica che bolla i Duran Duran come boyband per ragazzine incapace di suonare, ed una probabile stanchezza creativa portano alla scissione del gruppo. Le Bon (voce), Rhodes (sinth) e Roger Taylor (drums) formano gli Arcadia ed il loro unico lavoro, "So Red The Rose", soddisfa in pieno l'esigenza di nuove esperienze stilistiche grazie anche al contributo di nomi quali Sting, HerbieHancock, Grace Jones, David Gilmour. Il singolo che anticipa l'album è "Election Day", cantato elegante e risposta di chitarra, ritmo uniforme e linea di basso piatta (un messaggio ironico all'ex bassista?) con continui interventi di sinth, e un Rhodes padrone assoluto della scena. I tre brani successivi, di chiaro marchio Duran, portano il suono verso uno stile darkrock dai ritmi fortemente scanditi, il timbro di Le Bon è profondo, il suono è limpido ma tradisce inquietudine. Segue "Missing", motivo etereo e sognante dalle lunghe note reverberate. Le cose migliori sono tuttavia nella seconda parte del disco dove, dopo un'oscura intro, la chitarra elettrica (di Gilmour?) illumina improvvisamente la scena per "The Promise", splendido tema melodico con Le Bon e Sting in duetto, piano affidato a Hancock, sax ad Andy  Mackay ed un giro di basso fretless che avvolge dolcemente frasi di sax e chitarra. "El Diablo" vede ancora Rhodes, sostenuto da una ritmica decisa, preparare il terreno ad un'altra ottima idea melodica intrisa di inquietudine, alternata ad assoli di flauto e chitarra acustica. Infine "Lady Ice", oscura e melodrammatica, con un incedere di tastiera che lascia attoniti, chiude un album discreto nel complesso maricco di dettagli a volte geniali, di immagini suggestive e surreali, uno dei migliori lavori di Le Bon/Rhodes.

Elenco tracce testi samples e video

01   Election Day (05:28)

Wild kind of look to the day
Opening eyes impale neon flickers
She moon, she turning away
The city�s her slave
He's cheating his mistress
She's moody and grey,
She's mean and she's restless
(So restless, so restless indeed)

All over you as they say,
Rumours or rivals yell at the strike force
Hi guys, by the way, are you aware you're being illegal
It's making your savior behavior look evil
�scuse my timing but say,
How d'you fit in with this flim, flam and Judy

Maximum big surprise your smile is something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
We're sacred and bound to suffer the heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray,
We're coming up on re-election day

Stretching my love down the way
To your invitation stretching my body
Use your intuitive play
Cause maybe we have more play time than money

Maximum big surprise she knows something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
I'm saving myself to suffer the heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray,
We're coming up on re-election day

(By roads and back ways a lover�s chance, down a wind
Curtain murmurs and sounds be calm hands on skin
Carry further.. entangled strands.. all sing!
Time, saving some time to slip away we could die )

Oh! shouldn't be asking� (why)
Wild and scheming
Could be my election day

Maximum big surprise you know something new
I pull my shirt off and pray,
We're sacred and bound to suffer this heat wave
Pull my shirt off and pray
We're coming up on re-election day

Re-election day

02   Keep Me in the Dark (04:30)

03   Goodbye is Forever (03:48)

04   The Flame (04:23)

05   Missing (03:42)

And as I wander down to where you lay
The blood rushed up to meet
The roses in your hair
I thought I saw you smile
But now I don't see you anywhere
Whispering your love song in my ear
How can you touch me
When you're not really there

Stumbling out I made my way towards the open door
Climbing fast the sun broad streaming
Laughter down into your empty gaze
Where can I find you
Now I want to join in your games
I hear you calling
I hear you calling, calling, calling, calling
(Calling, calling, calling)
Whispering your love song in my ear
How can you touch me
How do you really dare

06   Rose Arcana (00:50)

(Instrumental)

07   The Promise (07:29)

08   El Diablo (06:04)

Enter newborn players and gather
Weigh their innocence
Only the brightest shine
But not forever
Many lights die
Many tears rain
When those tears run dry
On a mountain madness day

You were just in time
For a foolish deal
A lover sold
I can't stand another howling day
Inside of this empty skin

While the beacons burn a flame
Please return from so far away

One life with the devil do I play
For so long el Diablo is to blame

Oh el Diablo, el Diablo, won't you sell me back my soul
Oh el Diablo, el Diablo, won't you sell me back my soul

Weddings on the wind, will she blow my way
He can dance and she can sing
She will tear your heart away
While the promise burns a flame
And will you return from so far away

One life with the devil do I play
For so long, el Diablo is to blame
One life with the devil do I play
For so long, el Diablo is to blame
One life but the devil is in my way

09   Lady Ice (07:31)

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