Machine And Soul

Although 'Machine + Soul' is definitely the biggest load of guff that Gary Numan has ever put out [although 'Human' and some of the Sharpe & Numan stuff are definitely up there], it may also turn out to be the most important album of his career. It was 1992 and Numan was thousands upon thousands in debt, he was so far out of the public eye he might as well have been invisible, his personal life was deteriorating rapidly and then, just when he really needed a killer release, he suffers an almighty bout of writer's block. Unable to take the album in any particular direction, he turned to his then guitarist Kipper who basically co-produced the thing and from then on it was doomed.

While some of Numan's previous albums, such as 'Metal Rhythm', contained elements of Janet Jackson and Prince (believe it or not!) it still had that touch of Numan's personality firmly stamped upon it, and this is where 'Machine + Soul' (and its predecessor 'Outland') really falls down; it is an album devoid of anything pertaining to Gary Numan. When the opening track has a chorus of 'so get up, get up and dance' you really know you're in amongst it. The title track, 'Cry', 'Generator' and 'Emotion' are trying so hard to be commercial, danceable electro-pop it's unreal. It's hard to see where Numan thought this stuff would fit into the music scene of the time, seeing as we were in the throes of Rave and the Madchester scene. Perhaps this has been Numan's problem for some time; he hasn't really fit into the musical landscape since '79/'80. The dreadful cover of Prince's 'U Got The Look' came from the 'Outland' days and shows just how far Numan was prepared to sell his soul to pay off his debts (although I don't blame him as such) and also how serious his lack of creativity really was.

Of the original nine tracks there are only two that could even be considered as anywhere near good quality Numan material. One of the album's three singles 'The Skin Game' is probably the best song on the album ('Emotion' and 'Machine + Soul' being the other two singles). Even this was spoiled for me by having a keyboard line that reminded me of the woeful 'Human Nature' by Gary Clail's On-U Sound System, a shame seeing as the song had a great chorus and is the 'most Numan' track on offer. The only other decent track is the ballad 'I Wonder', but - more nitpicking - this is superseded by the demo version, 'Wonder Eye', which is included as one of the extra tracks. Speaking of which, the extras are mostly instrumentals and are all pretty decent, though these tracks show Numan's annoying tendency to make intrumentals based on noise and effects rather than on melody. Plus, there's the demo version of 'Cry', known as 'Cry Baby', which lo and behold, is a lot better than the album version.

'Machine + Soul' deservedly bombed, and Gary Numan woke up to the fact that his current output was simply not good enough. Since then he's got himself back on track with 'Sacrifice', 'Exile' and particularly with 'Pure'. Now 'Machine + Soul' just seems like a bad dream. If you hadn't guessed already - AVOID!!

Fairly well recognised as the watershed where Gary hit the bottom of the barrel before making a big change in his career direction.

I actually think there are some decent tracks on here. 'Skin Game' is OK, as is 'I Wonder'. Where things really go wrong is the whole experiment with the funky sound. Just doesn't work. Earlier albums from the mid 80's had been much more successful in matching up the earlier dark keyboards with a bit of funk. In this record it's just overkill.

The Prince covers are very funny. I don't actually think they're that bad. Take them as they are, as throw away fillers and the extreme rarity that they are in that Numan rarely covers anything, then they are worth hearing. Not the first Numan album you should buy from his middle period but not quite the total write off some would have you believe.

Maybe not the best of all of Gary's white funk albums but the most entertaining and fun of them all in my humble opinion.Production is VERY low budget (just keyboards and guitar with female backsinging) the songs are more Prince influenced than ever before with a cover of You Got The Look I actually find better than the original.Not a weak track on the whole cd as oppossed to earlier efforts.The bonus tracks are numerous and mainly b sides of the single versions and demo versions far better and rockier than those of the actual lp are included.Several gorgeous ballads and a couple of instumentals,in Gary's minimalistic trademark approach,round up an already attractive package at 74' + .
I HAD to knock a star off what would have been a 5 stars rating because of the sound.Muddy upper treble and Gary's voice sounding like it had been recorded through a brick wall and the midrange and female singing are unpleasantly strident .
A special mention for 1999 (another Prince cover ) ;if you think the squeaky keyboard programmed ?wind section?did'nt work well on The Fury,this one sounds like a couple of out of tune car horns.Prince allegedly changed his name after these covers (naw,just kiddin'! )
A must for Numan completist and people who,like me,enjoy his white funk period.