Customer Reviews

Revelation / Ingenuity

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

 

 

Whether you discovered Ultravox through the John Foxx version or the Midge Ure version, you were getting a band that combined influences from punk, new wave, Bowie, Roxy Music, Kraftwerk... not faceless and bland vaguely progressive rock that makes the likes of Mike and the Mechanics or Asia sound almost edgy by comparison. Unfortunately, the latter is what you get on this disc, which combines two studio albums by two different lineups. The only thing either one has in common with any other Ultravox is Billy Currie, but for whatever reason he doesn't seem to remember what made Ultravox interesting. You wouldn't know he'd had anything to do with "Young Savage," "Hiroshima Mon Amour," "Dislocated," "New Europeans," or "The Voice."

If, on the other hand, all you know of Ultravox is a few tracks from Lament or U-Vox and the odd Midge solo tune, you may enjoy this. I certainly don't.

I think Billy Currie did a fine job after Midge Ure left; In fact, as much as I liked Midge Ure's voice, I would have appreciated an occasional break from it; some more variety. The vocals are really good throughout these last two albums. "True Believer" is a hit; a very strong song, complete with snippets of evangelists pleading for donations mixed in. The drum beats sound more modern than some of the older Ultravox stuff, so Billy Currie was keeping up with the current technology. "Unified" is another good one. I have no problem whatsoever with this final Ultravox lineup, with Billy Currie at the helm, and I welcomed it into my collection alongside all the other Ultravox recordings.

Billy Currie made a very good job. It's a pity that Midge Ure left Ultravox because they could go on years creating masterpieces. I recommend this double CD. I think Ingenuity is better than Revelation.
Buy it without doubt. Trust me!

Though Midge Ure is missing, this is a quality addition to any Ultravox collection.