The Alarm – Declaration (30th Anniversary) LP White Vinyl

	£		16
	$		21

Reinvented 30 years since the original album was released to dramatic effect in 1984. Stripped down and set free of the original arrangements, the songs on Declaration [30th Anniversary] have been able to move with the times and are as relevant to life today as they were when written in the early 1980's. "I felt like I could make a special record by treating the songs as if they had been written now," continues Peters. "It wasn't an easy process and I very nearly turned back a few times along the way. I had to take a very disciplined approach that was governed by the first principle The Alarm ever had, and that was to make music with an acoustic guitar, drum, harmonica and voice". Since the arrival of the White Stripes, Black Keys, Mumford & Sons etc, the world has now become accustomed to bands without a bass which is also the sonic blueprint for this 'new' Alarm album. "In 1981-1982, no one, not least me, understood how to make the sound of a band work without a bass guitar in the centre of the stereo picture. Now (with only The Alarm's versatile drummer Smiley), I was able to use the studio to create a record that is not only the sound of The Alarm's original vision but also a sound that is totally in line with contemporary trends, proving that The Alarm's music has, and can, stand the test of time."

No song has been left untouched. 'The Stand (Prophecy)' has now been recorded and included in full four verse form. "1984 was an era when bands left their singles off LP's" says the singer, "and The Alarm adhered to that in general even though we all wanted 'The Stand' (which had been a 1983 hit in the USA), to be included. To compromise, we included the fourth verse that was not used in the single version at the time." Both 'The Deceiver' and 'Sixty Eight Guns' have extra verses added and the version of '68' on the CD literally explodes into life at the midway point and is surely destined to breathe new life into the way fans react to this monolithic Alarm song. "The original 'Sixty Eight' was a narrative inspired by a book called 'A Glasgow Street Gang Observed' and although I presented the lyric accordingly on the original sleeve, I always felts something was missing. As time passed, I began to realise that I had taken out the wrong verse when making the song shorter. Here, I had an opportunity to put that right and present the song with the complete lyric and a more sympathetic storytelling arrangement." For those Alarm fans who have come to love the band through the Poppy Fields recordings (or more recently through the exposure afforded to the band in the aftermath of the 'Vinyl' movie), Declaration 30th Anniversary presents an opportunity to embrace a part of the band's history that was special to a first generation of fans who have and still support the group to this very day. "Of course, for some, it will represent a trip down memory lane, for others it will be a chance to celebrate something that has value and integrity, a music that has stayed with us through the walk of life we have all lived since we first came into contact with Declaration either in the writing or the listening." 'Take this song of freedom put it on and arm yourself for the fight, our hearts must have the courage to keep on marching on and on' - The Alarm - Declaration [30th Anniversary]. Track listing: Shout To The Devil; Where Were You Hiding When The Storm Broke?; The Stand; Tell Me; Howling Wind; Blaze Of Glory; Third Light; The Deceiver; Sixty Eights Guns; Declaration; Marching On; We Are The Light  

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