Search - Paul Haig :: Rhythm of Life

Great 1983 synthpop you may have never heard...

Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 02/02/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Haig's first solo release after his punk days with Josef K gets a jampacked release, including the entire EP remixed by Bruce Forest back in the day--although, most of the mixes are not as good as the original LP mixes. I also wish they had included Paul's first solo single "Running Away" as a bonus track.



Trading in guitars for synths and drum machines, this first solo album follows the synthpop formula to perfection, featuring female background vocals that reek of Human League, and upbeat synthpop gems in the style of Blancmange, as are the vocals. Here's a breakdown of the tracks:



"Heaven Sent" is definitely Human League meets New Order. So incredibly catchy. The bonus Bruce Forest mix is a little too house feeling, and takes away from the new wave synth sounds of the original.



"Never Give Up" is quite a slice of commercial synth pop, almost hokey, yet the vocal bridge/break is a fantastic new wave melody that doesn't go with the rest of the song. As hokey as the original is, the Bruce Forest mix strips away all the energy that gives the original mix its annoying charm.



"Adoration" is a melodic new wave masterpiece. Bass line reminds me of New Order. Great song.



"Stolen Love" is a great new wave synthdance track. The original mix is better than the only slightly longer Bruce Forest mix, which again, seems to strip the energy out of the song!



"Don't Rush in" is total Blancmange style synthpop.



"Blue For You" reminds me of the more pop dance tracks of the 80s, like Quando Quango and the Comateens. Lots of female background vocals. What is it with these Bruce Forest mixes? Again, it's kinda dull.



"In the World" is a cold and unemotional synthpop track. Not crazy about it.



"Justice" is upbeat synthpop perfection. So perfect it's almost annoying. And at last, I like one of the Bruce Forest mixes, which takes off the edge of happiness a bit and gives the song a little more attitude.



"Work Together" is a funkier synthpop sound, reminiscent of Heaven 17.



If you're looking to find some synthpop you may have missed back in the day, this is a good place to start, although, this album isn't quite as infectious as some huge 80s staples like Erasure, New Order, and Depeche Mode."