Declaration [30th Anniversary Edition]

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."