Customer Reviews

Dark Light

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The songs from `Sacrifice' are largely true to the album versions, with the addition of real drums in the mix. The drumming on A Question Of Faith is first rate, and reminiscent of the drums on `The Pleasure Principle.' Other standouts are a few of the earlier songs - Noise Noise, I'm An Agent, Listen To The Sirens, Stormtrooper In Drag, The Hunter, Jo The Waiter(!!!). The loudest, most powerful song is I Die: You Die. Ade Orange's bass work stands out on Praying To The Aliens and Stormtrooper. There are also some re-worked songs like Replicas, Everyday I Die, and a funked-up version of Are `Friends' Electric. I don't have any other live Numan albums, so have nothing to compare it to, but if you like the style of `Sacrifice,' `Exile,' and his Tubeway Army era stuff (me, I like it all), then I definately recommend this.

Live performances have always been Numans strong point and he has always paid equal attention to both light and sound. It is for this very reason that his live audio recordings stand up by themselves! This is somewhat of a retrospective set managing to please and excite fans from all eras of his career. From the very first notes, the tension is created, then smoothly maintained right through to the finale. See him live...but if you cant then buy this cd, close your eyes, and imagine youre there! Its well worth the trip!!

What everyone has already said...dark, crunchy, and very melodic. The band is obviously having a great time and so is the crowd.

But it is the encore that amazes. Jo the Waiter: Listen in the background for the guy in the audience yelling behind the lyrics "...held me close, behind the door marked Gentlemen." Or the reaction after "...call me friend." It will send chills through you. But then hold on for "I'm an Agent", their final song. You get the tape loops, the beat, then the band just explodes into the song. I had no idea that song could be played that way. When this is out of print you will be very sorry you don't have a factory CD you can rip them from.

Although not quite up to his previous year's live album (DREAM CORROSION), still a stunning live set. He's obviously self-confident and enjoying himself - something that never came through on his live albums from the 80's. The SACRIFICE tracks hold up best, with powerful drumming backing him up. The inclusion of a few songs already played on DREAM CORROSION ("Jo the Waiter" and "Noise Noise", a b-side of all things), plus the loss of occasionally-overbearing-but-missed T J Davies on backing vocals are the few bad things I can say about this work.

I really like this live recording from 1994. The tracklisting features a good balance between his industrial Sacrifice stuff(which I love the drumming by Richard Beasley)and a bunch of old songs basically from Tubeway Army, Replicas and Telekon. Cars and other great numbers from The Pleasure Principle are absent here (I guess he became tired of them after 15 years!) but it can't bring this great concert under 5 stars. Favorite tracks : Question of Faith, Noise Noise, Listen to the Sirens, Stormtrooper in Drag, The Hunter, Are Friend's Electric, I'm an Agent... Great stuff!

The overall sound is pretty beefy when compared to his old studio stuff. I like it! His band is tight and professional, truly first class. I guess the audience at the Labatt Hammersmith Apollo had a great time that night!

Finally, a really good live album and an appropriated way to discover Numan. Go with The Pleasure Principle along with this one for a good view of the classic Numan stuff. And get away from his work between 1985 and 1992 if you like Dark Light! 5/5

p.s Bought it for 12$Can in Montreal, my all-time best quality/price rate for a CD :)

Gary's had many ups and downs in his career. Yet, through it all, his live albums tend to serve him well. This might be one of the best. Sound is very clear, the performance is solid with just enough loose and raw ambience to give it edge. The set list is really what makes this stand out though. This was recorded on the 'Sacrifice' tour, so that album is well represented. What recommends this, however, is focus on tracks that are rarely heard live. "Cars" and "Metal" are absent from this set. Instead you get b-sides, Tubeway Army and Numa tracks like 'Noise, Noise', 'Stormtrooper in Drag', 'The Hunter', 'Jo the Waiter' and 'I'm and Agent'.

Man what a return to form for the electric pioneer Gary Numan ! This live record is a milestone.Recorded during the Sacrifice tour,it features like 80% of that record played live and rabid.The tracklist is absolutely out of the ordinary including the most sombre songs of GN's career,with an emphasis on non-album singles and the earliest of songs (The Plan lp) performed in the new industrial style.Despite of the continuous volume variations,this is the most bottom-heavy cd I've ever owned ( kept clipping my amp's protection circuitry) and the midrange is a bit subdued but it's as good as live records get.The set transpires agression,drummer Beasley makes some of his trademark mistakes here and there and guitarrist Kipper is totally out of place with his Stevestevenesque style and soloing (but I like them both anyway)
At 110'this is very generous 2 cd set.Get it or rot !!!!!

Gary Numan's music is great, but hearing him live - it's magic. This album is from Gary's 1995 "Sacrifice" Tour. "Sacrifice" ranks among fans as Gary's return to musical form - the songs are powerful, thought provoking and inspired. Hearing this material live is a real treat. Standout songs from the "Sacrifice" tracks like "Bleed" and "Magic" were made to be played live. Other treats are the older songs like "I Die, You Die," "Are Friends Electric," the ever present "Cars" and a great rendition of "Jo the Waiter". This is a great album to introduce people to Gary's music.