Customer Reviews

Standing in the Light

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whatever Level 42 were trying to do musically it worked.There sound was funky,soulful and tight and how they managed to gain any interest ammong British new romantics in beyond me.Mark King,Mike Lindup and Phil and Boon Gould are real musicians,real performers with a great glossy sound saddled with,on the vocal numbers,lyrics of topical or intelligent concerns.They remind me of Earth,Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder at times but with a TOTALLY fresh flavor."Micro Kid",the classic "The Sun Goes Down" and the title cut are classic Level 42-the sound always rises from the bottom."I Want Eyes" and "Out Of Site Out Of Mind" are lovely ballads and "People" should have been a MAJOR US hit!!!This band NEVER got it's due early in it's career,whitch was also their peak.From 1980 to this album their material represent Level 42 at their musical prime and even though 'Something About You' hit big a few years later the band were way past their peak by the time the song was released in my opinion.In fact it would start to go downhill after 'Standing In The Light' when the band moved away from it's classic sound in it's next outing,focusing more on true new wave techno-pop and clished world beat experiments.But EARLY Level 42 were a spectacle to behold.And along with period Spandau Ballet,ABC and The Style Council British funk-jazz/R&B couldn't get much better.

This is a once-in-a-life masterwork. Level 42 were the moment jazz-funk mainly instrumental phenomenon, and their leader, Mark King, decided to demostrate the world he could sing too. They met with Earth Wind & Fire Larry Dunn & Verdine White and the result is an absolutely stunning pop-funk wonder. If "Living it up" was the most successful track (and one of their classics in time) I would certainly not forget "Micro-kid" that could have been a monstrous single (maybe with a remix). But the substance here is far more than that. Just listen to my actual overall
favourite Level 42 track, the dreaming "Out of sight out of mind", or the infectiously dancy "Dance on heavy weather", the atmospheres of "I want eyes", or even the fine melodies of the beautifully sung "People" by Mike Lindup. And what suprises me is the freshness of this music, I think really it's ahead of its time. I cannot recommend this album more. For musicians, for Level 42 aficionados, for all music lovers in the world. Just buy it.

all i can say is that this is a key 80's pop album with all the intelligent strings attached. if you are a 42 fan....buy this as soon as you can.

If I make a 10-records favourites of my life in my collection this certainly is into it. In 1983 world was not prepared for this kind of sound, so it was hugely underrated. Together with two great minds like Larry Dunn and Verdine White of Earth Wind & Fire, Level 42 created a masterwork that is perfectly actual nowadays. The first three tracks, "Micro-kid", "Living it up" and "Out of sight out of mind" (my favourite overall) seems linked together in a no-stop magic of jazz-funk with inspired melody and groove. But even on the less known episodes, like "Pharaoh's dream (of endless time)" you immediately feel this is not one of the hundreds releases you listen for a couple of months and then put into other hundreds. Or have a try to another gem of this release, the fantastic "People", with a touchy singing by Mike Lindup, or the inspiring "I want eyes". This is pure magic, you don't know music if you miss this.

Recently, at a party, I was asked a strange question: "Phil, if you were sent to a desserted island and had no contact with the rest of the world and had to live out the rest of your days, and you could only take 5 albums with you, what would they be?" My answer included Level 42's 1983 classic, "Standing in the Light" as one of those 5.....This album was the third offering from the former carpet cutters and it did not disappoint! All 9 tracks each have a unique sound which are complemented by not only Mark King's incredible bass playing, but by his masterful percussion.....some songs even included the sound of milk bottles. Mike Lindup (Keyboards and backing vocals), like on all Level 42 albums, chimes in with a lead vocal effort on one of the tracks, "People", but the two best on the album are, "Out of Sight, out of Mind" and "I Want Eyes"........beattiful sounds and, as always, lyrics that create a real visual clarity so rich that you loose concept of the "here" and "now" and are taken to another level of being. Mark, Mike, Phil and Boon, I salute you!!! Phil MURRAY

for my money, quite simply this is LEVEL 42's best album, and possibly one of the best albums of the 80's....it's funk, it's jazz, it's AMAZING! every song is beautifully arranged and mixed, not to mention masterpieces of songwriting....think i like this one?? you betcha....from start to finish, it's a soaring ride thru one of the 80's classiest products....

Level 42's "Standing in the light" is the perfect blend of jazz, pop, and funk.

This 1983 release that made the funk-pop band big in the UK has alternate title for Japanese: Sun Goes Down. Sun Goes Down and Micro-kid also released as singles were well accepted in Japan as well. Chorus part in Out of Sight Out of Mind and A Pharaoh's Dream sounds like that of Earth Wind and Fire the band Mark King admires. I WANT EYES is quiet ballad somewhat like that of Kool and the Gang. DANCE ON HEAVY WEATHER and THE MACHINE STOP has the typical upbeat techno pop that UK pop fans may love.

Verdict: well-produced mid-80s UK pop.
Rating: 85 out of 100
Recommended for: Mid-80s UK pop fans. Also some of Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang, Geaorge Michael and Stevie Wonder fans.

Yes, I am a true Level 42 fan. Saying that, I don't like evey CD they made, as most fans know, "Something About You" is pop, but NOT "real" Level 42. Does this make sense ?
As for "Standing in the Light", it is AWESOME !!!!! Mark's bass lines are melodic and funky, as is the rest of the band. Every song rocks !! I LOVE the bass solo on "People". I LOVE this CD !!!

this is a favorite of mine, i play this cd often,especially when chilling,
this group should be still making music, the jazz/funk band, had members of earth,wind and fire doing production work on few tracks,and it added more fuel to the fire...do yourself a favor and check it out .