Manager advises break-up and release of The Raven

In 1979, one of the Stranglers’ two managers advised them to break up as he felt that the band had lost direction, but this idea was dismissed and they parted company with their management team. Meanwhile, Burnel released an experimental solo album Euroman Cometh backed by a small UK tour and Cornwell recorded the album Nosferatu in collaboration with Robert Williams . Later that year the Stranglers released The Raven , which had a more melodic and complex sound. The songs on The Raven are multi-layered and musically complicated, and deal with such subjects as a Viking ‘s lonely voyage, heroin addiction, genetic engineering, contemporary political events in Iran and Australia and extraterrestrial visitors, “Meninblack” . The Hohner Cembalet , which saw prominent use on the previous three albums, was dropped and Oberheim synthesizers used instead whilst acoustic piano was used on “Don’t Bring Harry”. A harmoniser was used to treat Burnel’s vocal on the track “Meninblack”, the recording of which led to Martin Rushent , who had produced their earlier albums, walking out, leaving the band to co-produce the album themselves with Alan Winstanley .