Saturday, 4 August 2012

John Foxx - Metamatic Deluxe 2CD Edition

* * * * ½



 


I first saw John Foxx leading the original Ultravox! back in the '70s.  I think they were supporting Supercharge at the time!  I saw them again as headliners only a few months later and was totally blown away by how much they had improved and by their amazing stage show.  John was a true pioneer, imitated by Gary Numan and the Midge Ure incarnation of  Ultravox. 

Metamatic was a terrific debut solo album following his departure from the band.  It featured the singles "Underpass", "No-One Driving" and US release  "He's A Liquid".  The gorgeous fat analog synths are on every track here.  The original 10-track album is supplemented by a bonus CD of unreleased versions, B-sides etc.  You get later single "Burning Car" but only the B-side to successor "Miles Away."  There is even "My Face" originally a flexi-disc with some teen magazine.

So why only 4 and a half stars?  Well, the transfers, while very good do lack the bloom and glow of my vinyl copies.  It's still an essential purchase, though.


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