Customer Reviews

Warp

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

 

 

A fine experiment in juxtaposition. I cannot describe New Musik's "Warp" in any other way. Often the beat of the song does not match the message therein. That's why it is so fabulous.

This was their third and final album. It sparked a couple of singles: "Here Come the People" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind." Both were virtually ignored in most of North America (even though the LP was available here, albeit briefly). But Japan must have been impressed enough to re-issue this rare find. I am glad that it did.

"Here Come the People" sounds like it could have been on an M album. Then there are two seperate songs entitled "All You Need is Love." One, of course, is the Beatles classic quirkily re-done by New Musik with a dance beat. The other is a beautiful original Tony Mansfield composition with the omnipresent message that love can conquer all. Simply exquisite. "Green and Red (Respectively)" uses music to define colors by my likening. It's just that we happen to listen in on the "red" section. There are three versions of "The Planet Doesn't Mind" on this. I happen to like the single version the best, probably for the way it was produced and engineered. The message from "Hunting" harks back to the message of "Dead Fish Don't Swim Home" from the first album. Unlike the earlier one, this is not an anti-war song. However, it raises questions about what some may consider to be senseless killing. The title track "Warp" is a marvelous piece. The ending is very clever. It sounds like a stuck or warped record (for those of us that remember records). But I imagine it is meant to be that way. "Going Round Again" is a description of a woman who sleeps around and the irritation it must cause the singer/writer. "A Train on Twisted Tracks" focuses on how to proceed in life in an uncertain future.

I am thrilled to have this CD. There are one or two less appealing songs - but nothing is ever perfect. I bought the first two albums back around 1980-81 but could never seem to find the third one. Now I have it and ALL New Musik fans should have it too.

This was the third and final album ( second album in the USA ) from this fantastic electro pop band from London UK. There albums just got more and more electronic and brilliant and Warp was no exception. Just listen to the sheer atmosphere of tracks like Kingdoms for Horses, Hunting, A train on Twisted tracks, I repeat and the title track amoungst others. Tony Mansfield's vocals are as superb as ever and we are treated to bonus tracks - 24 Hours from Culture being first class ( a brilliant instrumental that would work out well in a chill-out room ).
An essential buy for fans of New Musik, electro pop, dance and ambient.

Arthur Crichton

Having most of New Musik 45 singles from the 1980s and also 2 l/ps I have since bought Warp and find it is the best Album they have produced all the tracks are superb with the Beatles number almost as good as the original.It is a shame that such talent is missing these days I would love to see a revival and a new album by Tony Mansfield and New Musik.I would recommend all the New Musik CDs available to anyone reading this, if you haven`t heard of the group then give them a listen their music is still fresh and fits in easily to this new Century of mixed music.

It was an awesome CD. Delivered on time, even with a small mishap. Brand
new like it stated. Excellent service!

Steve

Tony Mansfield's New Musik was one of the great pop bands in the electonic/new wave genre of late 70s, early 80s (or, what I prefer to call, the golden age of rock and roll!). This is considered by critics to be their "dark" album. And it is -- lyrically. But then again, on each of the New Musik LP's, chipper upbeat pop electronics were married to dark, cynical lyrics. "Warp" just extends the "formula" a small step outward: the music is just a little perkier, and the lyrics are just a little darker.

"A Train on Twisted Tracks" is a little more downbeat than is typical of this band, but it nevertheless delivers the pop hooks. Perhaps one doesn't need three versions of "The Planet Doesn't Mind," but which one would you forgo? Oh, and as for "All You Need Is Love," that's not two versions of the same song. It's a downer (and catchy-hooky!) New Musik original that melds seamlessly into a cover of the Beatles' sing-along of the same name. It's genuinely one of the better Beatles covers out there, largely because there are so few decent Beatle cover tunes. It's also the most superficial song on the record, from a lyrical standpoint (ducking for cover from enraged John Lennon fans everywhere).

If you're only going to own one New Musik record, make it "From A to B", which has their strongest songs. If after you've got that one, and given it several spins, you want more -- and, really, that's the appropriate reaction -- then add "Anywhere Plus" and "Warp" with all the bonus tracks.

I find it hard to fathom that the inventive, quirky group which produced the classic "From A to B" could also have put their name to a record as execrable as "Warp". Every song comprises a bad tune, a weedy voice and a cheap "beep beep bop bop" from a synthesiser. From start to finish this work sounds as though it was made by two teenagers goofing off in their bedroom one afternoon. I read somewhere once that Tony Mansfield (the brain behind New Musik) considered "Warp" to be the weakest of the group's records and he's certainly right there, as long as you substitute the words "most abysmal" for "weakest". I really, really regret paying out for this CD. I beseech you to avoid it.