Metamatic [Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Import]

John Foxx | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 3, 2001)
• Original Release Date: 1980
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B00005N53A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #313,308 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered reissue of the former Ultravox frontman's debut solo album, released in early 1980. The ever-experimental Foxx embraced the cold sound of German Electronic music and added heart, soul and dabs of arty pretension, creating one of the most influential Electronic albums of it's time. It reached number 18 in the UK albums charts and was preceded by the hit single 'Underpass'. Also featured is the follow-up hit 'No-One Driving'. Metamatic is remastered by Foxx himself, with expanded artwork and sleevenotes by Record Collector's Daryl Easlea. The seven bonus tracks include two further hit singles 'Burning Car' and 'Miles Away' plus five non-LP b-sides: 'Film One', 'Glimmer', 'Mr No', 'This City' and '20th Century'. Edsel.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Voices blurring . . . Faces merging", April 15, 2003

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Metamatic (Audio CD)

If you are a fan of Gary Numan, A Flock of Seagulls, the Human League, and other early 80s electronic artists, definitely check out John Foxx's works as he no doubt inspired them all. Metamatic is his first solo album after his stint as founder and vocalist with Ultravox. This album was first released in January 1980, and definitely has that Numan Pleasure Principle sound. A staple of the musical "futuristic" movement, Metamatic is darker and more detached than even Numan's early works. Foxx described this album as "carcrash" music. It is definitely inspired by the cold life of the city with people being reduced to liquid form. When listening to this CD, one hears the soundtrack of the period when the 1970s turned to the 1980s. "A New Kind of Man" has the factory pulse of early Wall of Voodoo, the dark "Blurred Girl" foreshadows A Flock of Seagulls' "The Fall", "Miles Away" is like Numan's "My Conversation" in pop form, "Touch and Go" sounds so much like Ultravox's "Mr. X" it makes one wonder if the track is a leftover from the Foxx years. It is not Foxx taking from others, but Foxx creating a type of music with themes that inspired a generation of songwriters. Still, Foxx added his own imagination to the music. As Foxx states, "We were constantly making new music for the cities. But rather than looking to America, I wanted to make a kind of music which might have happened if America had never existed. A sort of minimalist European urban electronic folk music. I had a picture of a future jukebox in some lost European motorway service station. I just listened to it play what became 'Metamatic.'" What makes this CD definitely worth the price are the additions. Seven bonus tracks are included, as well as lyrics to the original album tracks, several photos of Foxx, and a three-page mini bio of Foxx and the impact of Metamatic. It is a very impressive package.

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The original originator of electronic pop, January 8, 2002

By 

brx "brxx" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Metamatic (Audio CD)

When he appeared on Top of the Pops as singer of the new wave band Ultravox, he had everything going for him: good looks, memorable voice, quiet-spoken manner, sophistication and a good song: "Hiroshima, mon amour". But then he appeared in a Hawaii shirt and no-one appreciated the electronic sounds. Half a year later carbon-copy Gary Numan had his one shot at TOPT and did everything right: A Cool outfit and the detached mannerisms of the 80ies - and the timing was right: Foxx had just been a few months too early. Then Ultravox broke up, Numan published "The Pleasure Principle" and Foxx a few weeks later "Metamatic" - again, a few weeks too late. And so he went down as mere numan-sidekick. What a shame. "Metamatic" is electronic new wave essence. Never had been an album more daring, innovative and listenable than this. Even now it does not sound dated a bit. Discover this hidden gem. It might be your last chance. The new EDSEL edition contains a lot of additional tracks.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your usual 'Techno' loop tape, February 2, 2003

By 

Bob from the Midwest (The Middle of No Where) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Metamatic (Audio CD)

Yes! - It can be done *real music played on synths. If you like the Cars then you should have this one.

I had a vinyl copy for this for years and bought the CD when my record player finally died. So now I get to hear the bonus tracks

*with beats that change from track to track, melodies, and lyrics worth listening to.