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THE ELECTROGARDEN MUSIC REVIEW POST
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THE PLEASURES OF ELECTRICITY
by JOHN FOXX
Posted: 01.07.2003
4805 Views
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TRACK LISTING
1. A funny thing
2. nightlife
3. camera
4. invisible women
5. cities of light 5
6. uptown/downtown
7. when it rains
8. automobile
9. the falling room
10. travel
11. quiet city
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LABEL:
Metamatic |
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RELEASED:
2002 |
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JOHN FOXX |
THE PLEASURES OF ELECTRICITY |
John Foxx was britains first definative electro-industrial pioneer. He was the original vocalist of the legendry Ultravox! In 1979 he even toured as a Live keyboardist for Gary Numan in 1979. 1980 saw the release of his first Solo Album "Metematic"the aklbum was pure electronic futurism Metamatic saw some Top 40 UK chart Succsess. He released a few single's of this Album which are still played today like: Underpass-the legendry analouge top 40 uk single Burning Car-Probaly the darkest ever analouge-electro industrial classic! 20th Century-This single was a pionnering EBM track with vocal samples!
In 1981 he released the Classic Album the Garden an electro-classical album and later released The Golden Section and Mysterious ways.And had ion 1983 one further hit Endlessly produced by the Legendry Zeus B Held! John Foxx virtually disappered of the face of the Music Scene till 1995. 1995 Saw John Foxx come back with a UK Tour and a New Album Called "Shifting City"..Five years ahaed of covenants United States of Mind this Album is probaly the Most Influential EBM-ELECTRO-SYNTHPOP album ever released. It was done with Lois Gordon( a guy I witnessed playing a keyboard,guitar,sampler and singing brillantly in a tiny club called the Red Eye,London.UK in 1997) John Foxx went on to release an Ambient-Electro album called Cathedral Oceans in 1997 and also released the Omnedelic Exotour EP and Album in the late 90'S. Industrial Re-Workings of all his classic's.
2002. Saw the 1st Release of The Pleasures of Electricty ...! Another album which is simply Influential to our Scene. It saw him and Lois Gordon team up and make this EBM,Electro-Classical Dark Futurist and tranquil Album...It was next Generation Kraftwerk with a touch of his early Metamatic Sound. To top this John Foxx has teamed up with the legendry Harold Budd(A famous contempory classic Score Music Writer). They have two Albums due out very soon "Translucence" and "Drift Music". John Foxx will also be realeaseing "Cathedral Oceans 2"(Follow up on his ambient electro project!) "Metematica" an album of Un-Released and Rare John Foxx material and a new Album "Urban Motets"!
John Foxx was and still is pushing the boundarys of dark electronic sound he's a must for all to check out here!
To purchase these John Foxx releases check out http://www.voiceprint.co.uk
Track by track review
A funny thing >rating 9/10
A sort of dark but up-tempo piece of synthpop not like any previous works of John Foxx...It sort of gest you in the mood for the whole album nightlife >rating 8/10
A funky little ebm number. A tale of the Sleeze of the UK Nightlife through the eyes of an on looker. With an Ambient Vocal Melody John Foxx then throws in a cheeky groove. Very mellow to the ear suprisingly even with a few breakbeats thrown in.
Camera >rating 9/10
This is probaly one of the weidist but beautifull pieces of Electonic Music...you could here Just Like Ultravox's-Vienna...this is just one of those lovely classical tracks but with a nice little electro beat....an amazing contrast of styles and sounds..!
Invisible Women 10/10
I have to say this is probaly one of the finest ever John Foxx Tracks you can here (It contains the melody to his 1980 Single Underpass!), with a beautifull electro beat and some beautifull strings this track is an anthem for a Man with a hole in his heart. It grips you and is very emotional but beautifull and tranquil at the same time.
Cities of Lights >rating 9/10
Another anthem with a lovely breakbeat.John Foxx has always song about the Enviroment Around him since 1976! But this is just total Metropolis Music..a beautifull sYNTH mELODY and a feeling I know this synth sound..and yes you might it has the edge of Gary Numans Top 5 UK hit "We are Glass". A brillaint and warm track which you could play anywhere at anytime!
Uptown/Downtown >rating 9/10
This is probaly the first ballad you here on the Album a beautifull tranquil song. With some layered female Vocals and a sense you've just met your Dream Partner and gone on a romantic trip through the galaxy's! Something to play in the Bedroom if you get my drift.. A picture of Perfection that song!
When it Rains >9.5/10
John Foxx at his best this is why he was a Pioneer an amasing Synthpop/electro Classic ..This was it what makes this guy so special he puts you in the song and gives you a feeling that its you whos singing on a stage ..! Another very well produced track.
Automobile >8/10
Here John Foxx gos back to his early days with cybe/electro vocal line and a beautifull electro beat..something whichis a trademark on all of his albums. The song has a Kraftwerk edge to it which works very well...! A song of cold Futurism!
THE FALLING ROOM >10/10
The strongest song on the Album..Dark,ebm with an amazing electro edge to it! This song would make you buy the Album Alone..John Foxx just simply stands out of the Crowd and push's technolgy ahead again with this song! If your a fan of Techno/EBM/SyntHpop/Electro this song will blow your mind. An amasing vocal line ,song stucture,baet and layerrs of amazing cold synth's!
TRAVEL>7/10
John Foxx goes back along way on this track..from 1976-1981-2002..a beautifull track simplistic buit beautifull synthpop all round. More of an Instrumental than a Vocal Track..its an atmospheric number which you could listen to while dreaming of days gone bye!
Quiet City >10/10
This is the ballad of 2002.....! A beautifull song with an Angelic ending and a beautifull sound very simalar to "Hiroshima Mon Amour!" his 1978 classic in style..but the ending Synths just fade awayand you wish that song lasted an hour.. Its only a few strings in structure but so are all legendry Tracks....And this one is one of them!
RATING: 9
Artist Link: http://www.metamatic.com
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Written By:
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Kirlian Blue |
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MEMBER REVIEWS
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arronc
RATING: 10
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Well written, and I agree with everything you say about the album.
John Foxx has never toured with Mr Numan to my knowledge though.
Where is the picture from ? My album cover is very different !
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joey
RATING: 10
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Brillant...John and Lewis are back with more of a 2000s. feel. I you like John Foxx’s Metamatic from 1980, you will like his last two CDs with Lewis Gordon. This time around a bit more of a Kraftwerk direction on a few tracks such as Travel.
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Kirlian Blue
RATING: 10
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arron-c John Foxx-toured with Numan on the Touring Principle 1979 for a couple of shows and was on Numans 1979 Pleasure Principle Album and the Teletour! But as a live Musician not as an Act!
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Michael Livsey
RATING: 9
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Fantastic return to form, a brilliant atmospheric album, very reminiscent of ’Metamatic’, but much slicker. It starts very low key and builds up to ’Quiet City’, a true classic track, easily as classic as ’Underpass’ or ’The Garden’.
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Alan Sharif
RATING: 4
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It was Billy Curry who toured with Numan and plays on The Pleasure Principle NOT John Foxx. This album is OK, his latest Crash & Burn is much better IMO.
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si_w
RATING: 7
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Nice review, just a mistake revolving around Numan. It was, in fact, Billy Currie and not Foxx who toured with Numan and appeared on the Pleasure Principle album.
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