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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This was Gary Numan's first album to feature the heavy synth-driven machine music that is his trademark. The debut album, simply called Tubeway Army, was more a punk-rock affair. Replicas, released in 1979, is a classic album of its' time and has perhaps been overlooked by many who see Mr Numan as nothing other than an ersatz David Bowie. Sure enough, Numan was influenced by Bowie but let's face it, how many acts that appeared in the 80s weren't? Numan was obviously inspired by David Bowie's mid-70s work with Eno on the Berlin-era albums like Low and Hereos. It's clear that he was also influenced by other early pioneers of electronica such as Kraftwerk and pre-Midge Ure Ultravox. But that doesn't mean to say Gary Numan didn't make original music - he did and this album is the proof. Forget the later funk-rock experiments, messing about with aeroplanes and speaking up in support of Maggie Thatcher, Gary Numan never again matched the sheer brilliance of this album - a futuristic nightmare vision of a world controlled by replica humans, all set to sparsely arranged, haunting synth-based music. Sure, everybody knows Are Friends Electric?, but the real gems of this album are the lesser known tracks such as Replicas, Me I Disconnect From You and the utterly awesome Down In The Park. In my view, this album was never bettered and if there's one Gary Numan album you absolutley must own this is it.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Gary Numan has been for so long an underrated influence. Although detractors would point to cheesy synth lines and daft makeup the truth is that he introduced the synthesiser as a major force for the first time in the charts. Jean Michelle Jarre and Tangerine dream had both done much of value previously but they were appealing to a small cognescenti who were learning to value the synth, whereas Numan dragged the chart watching teenagers of the late 70's and early 80's around to his way of thinking and if you were to count up the amount of synth based albums and singles since 'are 'friends electric' you would get a clear picture of what a huge influence he has been.
Replicas is the album that launched Numan and pop synth and as time passes this albums stature simply grows and grows. Based heavily on Numans love of science fiction short stories by writers from the 50's & 60's and dissafection he creates a bleak landscape of loveless relationships and a world populated by machines and disafected humans.
The stand out tracks are the tone setting 'me I disconnect from you', the relentlessly grim 'down in the park', 'you are in my visions' empty guitar led despair and the seminal 'are 'friends electric'.
The album is devoid of any duff tracks and though you are likely to find favourites the chances are that more often than not you will listen to the whole album through as every track has something that will grab your attention.
The bonus tracks are more than fillers as well, in particular the frenetic ' do you need the service' and 'we are so fragile'.
The quality of mastering is far greater than in the original releases and the extra tracks make this even better value for money.
Numan would go on to reach even greater heights with the blisteringly good 'pleasure principle' and 'telekon' but this album is where to start, bleak, sterile and the voice of a million dissafected youths who were destined never to 'fit in' and who got Numans vision of an electronic future.
Some albums are 'must haves' if you want to trace musics long history of new branches and strong influences and this is one of them. It is still relevant, the tracks still resonate and it's the perfect launch pad for a long underrated and ignored musician, the electronic face of chart albums and singles that you take for granted started here and few are as fresh and sharp.
Replicas is the album that launched Numan and pop synth and as time passes this albums stature simply grows and grows. Based heavily on Numans love of science fiction short stories by writers from the 50's & 60's and dissafection he creates a bleak landscape of loveless relationships and a world populated by machines and disafected humans.
The stand out tracks are the tone setting 'me I disconnect from you', the relentlessly grim 'down in the park', 'you are in my visions' empty guitar led despair and the seminal 'are 'friends electric'.
The album is devoid of any duff tracks and though you are likely to find favourites the chances are that more often than not you will listen to the whole album through as every track has something that will grab your attention.
The bonus tracks are more than fillers as well, in particular the frenetic ' do you need the service' and 'we are so fragile'.
The quality of mastering is far greater than in the original releases and the extra tracks make this even better value for money.
Numan would go on to reach even greater heights with the blisteringly good 'pleasure principle' and 'telekon' but this album is where to start, bleak, sterile and the voice of a million dissafected youths who were destined never to 'fit in' and who got Numans vision of an electronic future.
Some albums are 'must haves' if you want to trace musics long history of new branches and strong influences and this is one of them. It is still relevant, the tracks still resonate and it's the perfect launch pad for a long underrated and ignored musician, the electronic face of chart albums and singles that you take for granted started here and few are as fresh and sharp.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the frenzy and fury of punk rock came this master piece following on from the first thrash album "tubeway army". It spawned the classic single "Are friends electric?" and at over 5 minutes an epic in Punk terms but throughout the album songs deal with machines running and controlling the way we live. Down in the Park (later covered by the foo fighters)stands out as the best song but all here are worthy contenders. Later albums never reproduced the unique atmosphere created on this album as the lure of pop stardom took its toll. Criticised as a Bowie clone by some,make no mistake, this album is original in every way. It will sit proudly on your shelf with "Never Mind the Bollocks" and "Give 'em enough rope".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Replicas
Excellent reissue of 1979 CD by one of the pioneers of electronic music in the UK. Gary picked up the baton from Bowie. Read more
Published 22 days ago by David
Even better than before...
I had this as an LP and buying the c.d. gave me some extra tracks that I had never heard before. Although it is many years later the tracks are still as hypnotizing as before. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. MOORE
Numan's Concept Masterpiece
...and coming so early into his recording career - only his second released album at that time. At its release in 1979, its substance as a classic concept work was probably lost in... Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2008 by Ivan Lima
A Must for all not just Numan fans.
I remember when i first heard the song ' are friends electric' i was hooked in a second, everything about it seemed alien and not quite right!!! Read more
Published on 2 Feb 2008 by S. Crighton-hara
Portent for the 1980s
When 'Are Friends Electric?' hit number one in thick of 1979 new wave, it announced the coming of the synth-age. Read more
Published on 12 Jun 2007 by D. J. H. Thorn
the originality of replicas has never been surpassed
I remember when I first heard "Are friends electric?" some 25 years ago:it was the most original sounding track I had ever heard. Read more
Published on 6 July 2006 by dan the fan
A masterpiece
This album was the very first Gary Numan album I bought (back in 2003 - yes, I know it's taken a long time to review this album! Read more
Published on 21 May 2006 by R. Irving
Way Back In......
1979 I Bought This Album On Vynil (Remember That?).It Blew My Mind,It Was Like Listening To A Sci-Fi Story A Dark And Chilling Story But A Bloody Good One. Read more
Published on 28 April 2006 by Jon Doughty
NUMAN'S ABSOLUTE BEST !!!!!!
I'm knocked down by this special edition 25th anniversary remaster ! This is the best album from his 70's period in my opinion.Why ? Read more
Published on 25 April 2006 by JUAN MARTIN GABASTOU
All time great LP !
Before we start, let's get one thing straight - everyone is influenced by someone who came before them, the Beatles and Stones by Chuck Berry, Punk Bands by the New York Dolls, etc... Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2006 by "robbie_the_robot"
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