From: dlangs%sunstroke@sdsu.edu (Derek Langsford)
Subject: Review: Gary Numan - Machine and Soul
Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1992 17:24:54 GMT
Followup-To: rec.music.misc





Gary Numan - Machine and Soul      NUMACD 1009  (UK release only)

Total Running time   47.09 mins

1.  Machine and Soul    5.57
2.  Generator           6.08
3.  The Skin Game       6.23
4.  Poison              5.02
5.  I Wonder            4.28
6.  Emotion             5.31
7.  Cry                 4.45
8.  U Got the Look      3.57
9.  Love Isolation      4.38

Should be available on all three formats from the UK.

This is Gary's first new album after his split with IRS records and the 
resurrection of the NUMA label.  As I have indicated before, Gary's recent 
material bares little resemblance to his late 70s and early 80s work. 
This continues in that vein so if you are hoping or thinking that this
album goes back to his roots, forget it.

Overall I would say this is significantly better than 'Outland'.  Gone for the
most part are the (IMO) horrendously dancy beats and dance orientated purcussive
clutter.  There is still a strong beat to many of the tracks and the obligatory
famale backing vox plus funky guitar licks but the difference is that the beats
pound in a more techno style; there's more drive.  Guitar is more prominant but
not dominant.  Apart from 'Emotion' the lyrics are less repetitive than of late
but some of the old ideas still abound.   I'd have to admit some of the album
getting to be quite catchy.


The tracks:

Machine and Soul:  this is yet another version (5 altogether with the singles).
I must admit I have a hard time separating them out.  Still I do like the track.
Numanesque instrumental intro and then a driving beat with soaring guitar and
plucked guitar for the hook.  The chorus strikes me as being very similar to
'The Secret' chorus which is not a bad thing IMO.  I prefer the single
to 'The Skin Game'.  


Generator:  apart from the intro of "hey, hey-hey, hey ,hey-hey" from the female
singers this track is somewhat average for the album.  I don't like the intro at
all.  The beat has tribal overtones.  Curious song structure a fade to nothing
with reentry just before the song ends.  Caught me out the time before
especially as it collides into 'The Skin Game'.

The Skin Game:  yet another mix though not terribly distinguishable from the
others on the CD single.  Longer intro than the single version but not as 
long as the remix.


Poison:  this for me is the low point on the album; 'Dark Sunday' revisted with
elements of the Metal Rhythm sound on it.  The chorus is its only saving grace.


I Wonder:  with Gary doing covers I was half expecting this to be a cover of the
ABBA song of the same name but it isn't (phew, despite my having a soft spot for
ABBA).  But, we have an excellent ballad.  Unlike most it seems, I like
his slower songs and this is one of his best to date IMO.  As usual it is
remiscent of earlier songs (Don't Call My Name, Heart) but still a top notch
effort.

Emotion:  the song that will not die but keeps *US* in agony.  A different mix
again with a more solid bass beat but still the same old song - the epitome of
what is wrong with Gary's recent fare.  It's appearance here makes its presence
on 'Isolate' even stranger (we surmised that this was to be its only appearance
on an album despite it being 5 years newer than the rest of the material on
'Isolate').  

Cry:  You know how Gary has some songs that are at first run-of-the-mill but
still end up constantly reverberating through your brain.  I've been hooked like
that with this one.  Both this and 'I Wonder' are significantly different from
the versions on the 'Machine and Soul 1' single.  The ending is curious with an
electric piano and a sound which reminded me heavily of Heaven 17.  

U Got the Look: same as on 'The Skin Game ' single.  As Al Crawford says "Numan
vs. Prince and the song loses".  I would think this song might go down well live
but does not belong on an album IMO.  Sound reminds me of Robert Palmer's
'Addicted to Love' as have a few of Gary's songs.  

Love Isolation:  finishing off with another excellent ballad.  Reminiscent of
'Don't Call My Name'.  Perhaps one reason I like the ballads is that he 
explores synth sounds more without there being a dominant beat or guitar line.
Still, a strong finish.



Overall it's better than 'Outland' which is not saying much I suppose
but it does remind me of Metal Rhythm (New Anger outside of the UK), an album I
have grown to like a lot and respect.   It has some obvious and classic Numan
melodies and effects.  There are still elements of 'Outland' in that he is using
the same instruments but the sound is not as dancy (perhaps IRS *were*
responsible for 'Outland's' Janet Jackson mix).  Despite the odd low (Poison, U
Got the Look) I think this is an album I will increasingly like in the future.

Ratings:

6 out of 10
Erland rating +2 (on a scale of -5 to +5)
Crawford rating:  beige/banana/Irish Setter

Derek

P.S. If you are interested in receiving monthly email updates of Gary's 
activities in the music scene, drop me a line at the email address below.

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Derek H. Langsford                                            Dept. of Biology 
dlangs@sunstroke.sdsu.edu                           San Diego State University 
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