A Chilly Futurist Masterpiece
Gregory Kerwin | SF CA | 11/24/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Metamatic is John Foxx's Cold Wave masterpiece, massive washes of intertwined synthesizer chords sustained forever, robotic clicks and beeps matched with bled-out J.G. Ballard alienated post-hope lyrics. Metamatic is the soundtrack for nuclear winter, brutalist concrete urb-scapes, relationships with strangers, pointless routine, a society that's forgotten how to communicate. Foxx sounds like a robot, but his compressed mechanical voice, powerful and on key, is also desperate and pleading. The hallmark of this record is its consistency - Foxx never gets sentimental or romantic, and the songs are unrelentingly, ferociously, massively synth-detached. The atmosphere cast by this record is alienating and frightening but also surprisingly joyous - there are plenty of quirky little randomized microchip melodies that make you smile, and Foxx's concentrated vocal detachment is ultimately a hoot. Plenty of these songs are bopping dance groovy, too. This is at least the second remastering I've heard, and there's more revealed in this mix. It also includes a few new B-side singles in the package - my fave is the "instrumental" (no actual instruments were used in this recording!) Mr. No."
Better than ever
Kemistry | Charlotte, NC United States | 04/29/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I must admit that this is one of my favorite albums of all time (that and the Ultravox albums when John Foxx fronted them pre Midge Ure), from when I got the original vinyl LP when it was first released in the early 80's. Whether the fact that he is listed as one of Gary Numan's inspirations is good or not is another story but the similarity is there, in the early works of both at least. It's classic post-punk/elctronica that came before New Wave in the fast changing styles of the early 80's. This is the 2nd version I have of this cd, the mastering seems better on the single cd remastered version but this has several previously unreleased songs and some that are hard to find. Like "My Face" that was actually a freebie on the cover of the UK music magazine "Smash Hits" and my favorite "This City". Plus I actually got this for $10 from Amazon UK so much the better."
