Customer Reviews

World Machine

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I had the good fortune to be stationed with the Air Force in the U.K. from 1982 to 1984, and discovered Level 42 at that time through a co-worker. They had three albums out, and had come out with a fourth, "Standing in the Light", and I quickly snapped up copies of each. People in Britain and Europe were just getting around to discovering this group's talent. Mark King's bass playing is incredible, no other word describes it. Piano/synth and percussion are skilfully arranged and perfectly complement the guitar and saxophone performances. Everyone I had listen to them became an instant fan. Upon return to the U.S., I eagerly awaited "World Machine"'s release in summer 1985 and was not disappointed. This album to me represents the culmination of the Level 42 style demonstrated in their four previous outings, the kick-ass jazzy-funky instrumentals, uptempo vocals mixed with heart-moving ballads, and bona-fide dance club hits. I could play this album and the others over and over and never get tired of listening to them. I'd be hard-pressed to single out any song in particular on "World Machine", they all have elements that appeal equally to Level 42 fans. "Something About You" and "Leaving Me Now" have playability for Top-40 radio, but the title cut is a high-energy, hard-driving piece of work on which the band members outdo themselves. It's a shame the band has broken up, I'd dearly love for the band members to sign the LP covers I have of their first six albums, the rest are I have are on CD. Jazz fans everywhere, I strongly advise purchase of this recording, it's well worth it!!!

For many reasons,1985 was the happiest time of my life...and when I think of that year, immdeiately Level 42's "World Machine" comes to mind. The album features a wonderful blend of that unique jazz/funk sound which fans came to know, love and really only identify with the band, as well as some deep, and seemingly very personal moments. Such tracks as "Lying Still" and "Good Man in a Storm" (incidently, my favoutites from the album) leave a most eerie yet calming refrain. Two massive hits, "Something About You" (which went top 10 in the USA) and "Leaving Me Now" feature on the album This is a record that grows on you the more it's played. Try it, friends....you won't regret it! Phil MURRAY

This is without a doubt, one of my favorite albums of the 1980's. I'm sure most everyone knows the song "Something About You", which was one of Level 42's biggest hits. But if that's the only song you know from this album, then you're missing out on a lot. "Leaving Me Now" is the best track on this album. A gut wrenching ballad that has one of the best endings to a song, I've ever heard. "Hot Water", "World Machine" and "Chant Has Begun" are all upbeat tracks which are easy to get into. "Lying Still" and "Good Man In A Storm" are slower paced, but fantastic additions. The music has a pop/jazz/funk feel to it, which is not something you hear everyday. Did I mention the musicians are some of the best? Mark King's bass playing and Phil Gould's drum work is just another added addition to yet an already wonderful piece of work.

Contrary to my friend from England , I really liked this release from 1985. Having seen the group when they headlined Tina Turner's world tour, I was impressed by its vocals and musicianship.

The hit single "Something About You" and the title cut were the reasons for my initial purchase; however, the remaining tracks are earworthy memories of the "fun" 80's.

I would be pretty safe I'm sure in saying that 'Something About You" is the culmination of everything Level 42 had been trying to accomplish in it's then five years of existance,and four of the stars shown relate strictly to the song!It's a classic perhapes because of how familiar it is to me (having heard it in saturation play during the autunm of my fifth year;1985 to be excact) and also because of the general clean mix and clever arrangement.It was a time when heavily R&B,funk and jazz-oriented groups such as The Talking Heads,Sade,Scritti Politi and The Style Council had a good chance of getting a decent hit without selling out,and they did.
There's only one little problem with this.That one brilliant single notwithstanding 'World Machine' sounds like one of Level 42's least satisfying albums,and contains very little of the sting and zest of the groups first four albums.I suppose the changes started coming on 'True Colours',but even so they're strictly musical ones-the band still sounds miraculous from a standpoint of pure chemistry.But the trouble here (namely in the title song) is that Level 42 and Mark King himself have started to back away from the jazz fusion and R&B/funk stylings of their earlier work in favor of a blander pop sound that embraced more strains of latin and hispanic melodies and percussion.Not that there is anything wrong with that but in the mid 80's artists like Paul Simon,Peter Gabrial and Sting had that worldbeat stuff locked away and they all did spectacular work with that sound.
But it just doesn't mesh well with Level 42's particular brand of music whitch tends to be more sultry,glossy and quite funky.
So 'World Machine' is a great album for it's time-it's up with the current trend of that era and has certain reminders of this bands firey past.But Mark King's bassey funk instrumentals are now a thing of the past-every song has vocals and pop hooks.So did Level 42 sell out?Not here,just had their music take a very different form.I recommend this album to fans of Level 42's more commercialy potent period but for fans of the band's more fusion and funk material the UK have put out a two CD set covering both the bands self-titled debut,1980's 'The Early Tapes' PLUS bonus material.That and the twofer containing the albums 'Pursuit Of Accidents" and "Standing In The Light" are the type of albums fans of the classic Level 42 British jazz/funk styles will enjoy more.For fans of more pop/R&B with slight funk/fusion influences this album and most of what came after it are a good choice.It all depends on what you want.

This is where it all started for most Yanks like me. Imagine that it's 1986, and you have your first taste of this quartet from England. They write really thumpin' dance-pop songs and really pretty pop ballads, but underneath it all is a stylistic nod to classic 70's jazz-funk a la Stanley Clarke and the musicianship to pull it off. In other words these were world-class musicians making great pop. World Machine has all of the above in spades.

Nowhere is this pop vs. musicianship phenomena more evident that on the worldwide hit single "Something About You". It's a great pop song with a great hook and lush vocals, but it is driven by the stalwart rhythm section of bassist-extraordinaire Mark King and groovalicious drummer Phil Gould, for my money one of the funkiest drummers ever. Guitarist Boon Gould delivers a beautiful guitar solo to boot.

King is without a doubt the most visible of Level 42's star musicians. He is arguably the greatest bass guitarist in the world, and World Machine shows a slightly more subdued side of Mark King. The thumb acrobatics of prior Level 42 albums give way to more tasteful yet still funky bass guitar work on "Lying Still" and "It's Not the Same for Us". Try doing what he can do on the bass guitar AND sing at the same time!

Other highlights include the pretty yet melancholy "Leaving Me Now", featuring Mike Lindup's beautiful piano work, and the title track "World Machine", a club-friendly dance number.

World Machine shows a band at its peak of popularity yet also in transition. In a couple of years after this release, producer Wally Badarou would be gone as would the Gould brothers. The classic jazz-funk sound of Level 42 would eventually give way to a more rock-based sound. So this is an important time capsule of sorts in that it shows the best of Level 42's jazz-funk past but also hints at the best of things to come.

A special note about the latest US release of World Machine is that it includes a couple of songs that were originally released on the True Colours album from 1984: "The Chant Has Begun" and "Hot Water". These are among the all-time Level 42 classic songs, but they are included at the expense of excluding other classic Level 42 tunes "I Sleep On My Heart", "Coup D'Etat", and the ever-funky "Dream Crazy", which were included on the original US version and are on the current UK version.

There's no such thing as a perfect pop album, but Level 42's 1985 release is certainly one of the best bits of ear candy of the last 20 years. Though the production style is quintessential 80s, the qualities that make "World Machine" so solid would be more than welcome today.

If you get past the pop veneer, you find the other elements that made L42 one of Britain's top dance bands in the 80s and 90s -- the lilting, Latin flavour of the title track, the shimmering harmonies of "Something About You," the moody and soulful balladry of "Leaving Me Now" and "Lying Still," and the propulsive funk of "Dream Crazy" and "Coup d'Etat." All with the intensity that L42 retained from its funk-jazz days.

Bassist/vocalist Mark King's distinctive bass playing, a little less up-front than in the previous album, blends in well with the keyboards of Mike Lindup (also backup vox) and Wally Badarou, and the rhythm guitar of Boon Gould. King's baritone and Lindup's falsetto merge beautifully.

But the star instrumentalist here is drummer Phil Gould, whose elegant balance of snare and toms and hi-hat cymbals is almost as much a symbol of classic L42 as King's bass.

The cut order in this version is slightly different from the US version of the album, which also subs out "I Sleep On My Heart," "Dream Crazy" and "Coup d'Etat" for "Hot Water" and "The Chant Has Begun," from the previous year's "True Colours." The original order works a little bit better, being more reflective of L42's roots as a dance/funk band.

You can't go wrong with either version, though. Peerless musicianship, powerful arrangements and great production by Wally Badarou make "World Machine" a wonderful set to hear -- again and again -- after all these years.

With a combination of jazz fusion and funk, World Machine is an album that transcends any fashion of music. It simply defies time and continues to sound as fresh as it did in 1985.

Mark King and Mike Lindup's vocals inter-weave and sound like they were born together, and the rhythm section (featuring King's amazing bass playing) is a whole dimension in itself (try listening to the drum, synth and bass via headphones and isolate it)

The song "Good man in a storm" features one of the coolest sax solo's i've heard and if you want just some flat out, steady funk, "Coup de etat" always works for me.

If you can get your hands on it, try and get the UK version of this album. (the songs I mentioned above only appear in this version) The North American release does not measure up, although "Hot Water" is a good song. (I happen to own both versions and my review applies mostly to the UK version)

The UK version also includes the song "Dream Crazy" a much better alternative to "The chant has begun" on the No. American version.

This was my first L42 exposure 13 years ago, (Man I'm Old!), and it's not my favorite L42 LP but it sure holds alot of memories! If you like smart, groovy, soaring, visceral music, BUY IT! You won't be dissapointed. Highlights: All of it! Favorites: A Physical Presence, Something About You, A Good Man In A Storm, & Lying Still.

Don't forget that there are two different versions of this Album. The U.S. version and the U.K. version. Both contain the hits "Something About You" and "Leaving Me Now" but the U.K. version has a song called "Dream Crazy" which should not be missed by any true Level fan. Both C.D.'s are simply incredible and both are worth having.