Marc and the Mambas forever can be considered the blueprint for Marc Almond's solo career. As Soft Cell developed into an excellent mix of pop and electronic "dark" dance music, Marc and the Mambas picked up there - but more and more got rid of the dance beat.
While their first album still was searching for its own voice - with a mix of ballads with and without dance beats, Torment and Toreros was an incredible mix of Vaudeville, French chanson, goth sensibility, guitar noise, piano, string sections and a singing hero that went mad during the course of this album. Marc Almond later noted ironically, this album was an attempted suicide put on vinyl, and in a way it was. However, looking back at it almost 25 years later, it still goes strong, since there was never anything like that before and after.
Interesting was on top of that the group as such was an outfit that was closer to a jazz outfit rather than a rock group. The band members changed from album to performance and back each time something new was started. The only really consisting members were Marc Almond, of course, and Annie Hogan. Further members, such as Billy McGee and Martin McCarrick went later on to join Marc for his first solo efforts (called Marc Almond and the Willing Sinners). But Martin McCarrick left for Siouxsie and the Banshees in 1987, and the rest of that band (then called La Magia) dissolved in 1988. Since then Marc has been a true solo artist, working closely together with Neal X (of Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame) since 1993.
As for the Mambas, David Ball was an associated member for their first single, "Sleaze" and Matt Johnson from The The was a member for the first and second album but did not join anymore for the last concerts in 1983 (put to Vinyl and later to CD as Black, Bite & Blues.) Never a full but an associated member was Jim Foetus (aka Jim Thirlwell/Clint Ruin), who did guest vocals and percussion on "A Million Manias" as well as "Love Among the Ruined."
It was in 1983, that Marc as well as Soft Cell were very close to the avant-garde scene around Foetus, Psychic TV, and Einstürzende Neubauten.
Antony from Antony and the Johnsons quotes "Torment and Toreros" as the most important influence on his life and his work.
Vision
Marc and the Mambas Lyrics
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Locked inside my head
It creeps upon my mind
And warms me in my bed
A vision shimmering, shifting
Moving in false firelight
A vision of a vision
Protecting me from fear at night
And my love stayed strong
I don't know where you end
And where it is that I begin
I simply open my mind
And the memories flood on in
I remember waking up
With your arms around me
I remember losing myself
And finding that you'd found me
And the seasons rolled on
And my love stayed strong
Be my child, be my lover
Swallow me up in your fire glow
Take my tongue, Take my torment
Take my hand and don't let go
[Chorus]
Let me live in your life
For you make it all seem to matter
Let me die in your arms
So the vision will never shatter
And the seasons rolled on
And my love stayed strong
The seasons rolled on
My love stayed strong
My love stayed strong
And my love stayed strong
[Repeat chorus]
The lyrics to Marc and the Mambas's song "Vision" seem to focus on the idea of a powerful and persistent memory or image of someone the singer used to know. This vision is described as being locked inside the singer's head, and it has the power to both warm them in their bed and protect them from fear at night. The lyrics also suggest that this vision is shifting and shimmering, almost like a mirage, making it seem both elusive and powerful. As the song progresses, the singer reveals that this memory is of a former lover, with whom they shared a deep and intense connection. Despite the passage of time and changing of seasons, the singer's love for this person has stayed strong, and they seem almost haunted by the memory of their relationship. The song concludes with the singer asking this person to "be my child, be my lover," essentially asking them to consume and possess them so that they can remain forever locked in this vision of love.
Overall, the lyrics to "Vision" capture the intense power and influence of memories and the way they can shape and define our lives, even long after the events themselves have passed. The reference to seasons changing in the lyrics adds an additional layer of metaphorical richness, suggesting that even as time marches on and things around us transform, some things remain constant and unchanging.
Line by Line Meaning
I have a vision of you
I constantly imagine and picture you in my mind
Locked inside my head
The image of you is stuck in my thoughts and feelings
It creeps upon my mind
The thought of you always comes back to me
And warms me in my bed
Thinking of you brings me a sense of comfort, intimacy, and affection
A vision shimmering, shifting
The image of you is constantly changing, evolving, and moving in my mind
Moving in false firelight
The picture of you is not real, but rather a projection of my desires, dreams, and illusions
A vision of a vision
The image of you is a reflection of my own perception, interpretation, and projection of reality
Protecting me from fear at night
Thinking of you helps me overcome my anxieties, worries, and insecurities during the night
As the seasons rolled on
As time passed by and the world changed around me
And my love stayed strong
My feelings of love and devotion towards you remained unchanged and unwavering
I don't know where you end
I cannot distinguish between who you are and who I want you to be
And where it is that I begin
I cannot separate myself from the image of you that I have created in my mind
I simply open my mind
I let go of my fears and doubts and allow myself to remember
And the memories flood on in
I recall the moments we shared together, both the good and the bad
I remember waking up
I bring to mind the times when I was in your company
With your arms around me
When you held me close and comforted me
I remember losing myself
I reminisce about the moments when I felt vulnerable and emotional
And finding that you'd found me
When I realized that you were there for me and cared for me
Be my child, be my lover
I want you to be both innocent and passionate with me
Swallow me up in your fire glow
I desire to be engulfed and consumed by your presence, warmth, and passion
Take my tongue, Take my torment
I want you to take away my doubts, fears, and struggles and replace them with your own words and feelings
Take my hand and don't let go
I want you to hold and guide me through the difficult and uncertain times
Let me live in your life
I want to be a part of your world, your experiences, and your happiness
For you make it all seem to matter
You give meaning, purpose, and value to my life and existence
Let me die in your arms
I want to be close and intimate with you until the end of my life
So the vision will never shatter
So that my image of you will never be lost or destroyed, even after I die
And the seasons rolled on
Time passed by, but my feelings of love and devotion towards you remained constant
And my love stayed strong
My feelings of love and devotion towards you remained unchanged and unwavering
The seasons rolled on
Time passed by, but my memories and feelings towards you remained constant and significant
My love stayed strong
My feelings of love, commitment, and passion towards you remained stable and enduring
And my love stayed strong
My love towards you persisted and remained resilient, even in the face of adversity, loss, and change
Repeat chorus
The message and sentiment of the chorus is repeated and emphasized, reinforcing the depth and intensity of the singer's feelings towards the person he desires and cherishes
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PETER HAMMILL, PETER JOSEPH ANDREW HAMMILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind