| Conscience | |
| Type: | Album |
| Artist: | The Beloved |
| Cover: | Thebeloved_conscience.jpg |
| Border: | yes |
| Released: | 8 February 1993 (album) 1992 (EP) |
| Recorded: | March–July 1992 |
| Studio: | Sarm West Studios + Wolf Studio and Abbey Road |
| Length: | 57:06 |
| Label: | East West (album) Atlantic (EP and U.S. album) |
| Producer: | Jon Marsh and Helena Marsh |
| Prev Title: | Blissed Out |
| Prev Year: | 1990 |
| Next Title: | X |
| Next Year: | 1996 |
Conscience is the second studio album, and fourth album overall, by English electronic music group The Beloved, released in February 1993. It reached #2 on the UK Albums Chart[1] and includes "Sweet Harmony", the first single taken from the album and the first from the band to enter the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 8.[1] Both are the highest positions reached by The Beloved in the UK charts with an album and single release.
The band faced some controversy for the video of the album's first single, "Sweet Harmony," which consists of singer Jon Marsh naked among a group of women who were also naked (although it was shot and edited so as not to show anything which might cause it to be censored). One of the nude stars of the video is English model Tess Daly, who went on to become a television presenter. Still a duo, Jon had recruited his wife Helena after fellow band member Steve Waddington left, following the release of the 1991 remix album Blissed Out. Jon and Helena composed all of the songs on Conscience, but Helena rarely appeared at live promotional gigs, though she did feature on some videos for the album's singles, but not on "Sweet Harmony." This song, which was originally used to promote the second season of the popular American primetime soap opera Melrose Place in some European countries, including Italy, has since been used in Homebase advertising too.
The album produced other singles, but none of them were as successful as "Sweet Harmony" which went on to become their biggest hit in the UK, reaching number 8 in January 1993.[1] The other four singles taken from the album were a double A-side of "Celebrate Your Life" and "You've Got Me Thinking", which peaked at number 23,[1] "Outerspace Girl", which reached number 38[1] and the final single, "Rock to the Rhythm of Love," which was released in the United States only. The latter song was performed live at the London Gay Pride in 1994 during the afternoon hours of a concert which was then closed by Boy George late at night. Many musicians who participated in George's Jesus Loves You project are also featured on Conscience, such as keyboardist Richard Cottle and, most notably, guitarist John Themis, who authored much of George's solo works after the Jesus Loves You project.
Marisa Fox from Entertainment Weekly wrote, "The Beloved's front man, Jon Marsh, comes off as a New-agey Bryan Ferry, purring cosmic, romantic sentiments (like 'Lose yourself in me') all over his second U.S. album, Conscience. Whereas Ferry infused rock with sensuality, Marsh and his wife-partner, Helena, lace their ethereal mix with house grooves that seduce and hypnotize."
All songs by Jon Marsh and Helena Marsh.
| Chart (1993) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Albums Chart[2] | 144 | |
| Austrian Albums Chart[3] | 22 | |
| German Albums Chart[4] | 47 | |
| UK Albums Chart | 2 |
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | |
| Germany | 1993 | East West | CD | 4509-91483-2 | |
| France | CA 851 | ||||
| U.S. | Atlantic | CD/MC | 82457 |
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | |
| U.S. | 1992 | Atlantic | EP | 85759-2 |
