Customer Reviews

Under the Flag

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4 star:		(0)
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Make no mistake about it. This IS a rock musical. The overture, rousing end to the first act, the entre'act and the reprise. The elements are here but Tovey has turned the genre on its ear. More like the biting social commentary of A Threepenny Opera than Tommy, it is a harse indictment of Thatcherism and Britain at the time of the war in the Falkland Islands. Songs about unresponsive leaders, government induced unemployment and rabid, pointless jingoism mixed with the coolest industrial rhythms. Ambitious tale of the open festering wounds of industrialized England AND danceable. What more could you want!!

Fad Gadget (aka Frank Tovey) put out several albums before changing his tune and moving on musically. Fad Gadget left a legacy of biting, caustic, hilarious observations about humanity and society in general. The sound is not unlike Depeche Mode, only adding true wit and intellect wrapped in razor wire. Sprinkle in some pop sensibility and perhaps you're close to describing Fad Gadget. If you're into early 80's new wave or Goth, you'll probably appreciate this. Oh, by the way: Fad Gadget albums are LONG OUT OF PRINT and nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find ANYWHERE. Under the flag is one of the classic albums, so don't miss it!

This is my favorite album by Fad Gadget. Put aside all the hype about his stage antics (and disasters), and just listen to the music. The negativity about life readily apparent in the words shouldn't even be stop you from enjoying the catchy, deceivingly simplistic songs of this very early pioneer in the use of the synthesizer. When ABC and Human League were foisting their sappy synth-backed records on the public, Fad was truly expressing himself in this songs. The arrangements are excellent, as are the vocals and backing vocals. I have all of his albums on CD now and highly recommend the basics, "Fireside Favourites," "Incontinent," "Under the Flag" and "Gag". I got some of the singles like "Lady Shave" and "Ricky's Hand" as mp3 downloads. That's pretty much all you need. Fad transformed into Frank Tovey after these 4 albums. The Tovey music is RADICALLY different and doesn't appeal to me.

Get this one!