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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. This Wreckage |
| 2. The Aircrash Bureau |
| 3. Telekon |
| 4. Remind Me To Smile |
| 5. Sleep By Windows |
| 6. We Are Glass |
| 7. I'm An Agent |
| 8. I Dream Of Wires |
| 9. Remember I Was Vapour |
| 10. Please Push No More |
| 11. The Joy Circuit |
| 12. I Die: You Die (Alternate Version) |
| 13. Game Called Echo |
| 14. Photograph |
| 15. Down In The Park - (Piano Verison) |
| 16. Trois Gymnopedies (First Movement) |
Product Description
CD Description
Remastered from the original analogue tapes, Telekon is released for the very first time as a DOUBLE ALBUM. The original album was only released as a single disc in a value-for money move which also excluded the two singles ‘We Are Glass’ and ‘I Die: You Die’. Pressed on 180g the 2LP set is packaged in a brand new gatefold sleeve with newly designed inner bags and includes the two singles ‘We Are Glass’ and ‘I Die: You Die’. Originally released in September 1980, the album was Gary Numan’s third successive No1 album in the UK. Following the stark Pleasure Principle, Telekon is densely atmospheric and oplulent sounding, incorporating a wide range of synthesisers as well as viola, violin and Satie-like piano. The title track a particularly dark amalgamation of Bowies ‘Aladdin Sane’ and Numans own android exotica, is followed by the funkier ‘Remind Me To Smile’ which shows Numans ability to write a big pop chorus. This period also saw the unveiling of probably his most iconic ‘boiler suited’ look, which featured in all the photo shoots with elements incorporated into the album and single art. The 2 parallel red belts would go on to be synonymous with Numaniods. The whole album took on a dark and intense feeling, an artist struggling with disappointment, paranoia, confusion and screaming out for change. Earlier in August I Die: You Die was released as a single, which was beautifully anthemic. A very pretty circular melody scratched with guitars, earpiercing electronic sounds and a vindictive lyric aimed squarely at the media. During the albums recording Numan decided to quit touring and bow out with a series of lavish concerts in 1981 at Wembley Arena. These concerts were released on CD in 1997, Vinyl180 will release this concert for the first time as a 3LP set as part of the 80-81 boxed set available seperately.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Telekon contains some of the best crafted songs Gary Numan has produced. The electronics are blended with acoustics to great effect and the mix is more "fleshed out" than previous albums.
Originally released without the inclusion of "We Are Glass" and "I Die:You Die", (both top 10 hits during 1980,) the album lacked a commercial edge: it was arguably too austere, too enigmatic for anyone but the fans.
That said I would highly recommend this album to anyone interested in exploring Numan's earlier work. "Aircrash Bureau", "Sleep By Windows" and the wonderful stop/start "Joy Circuit" are beautifully crafted songs. "This Wreckage" and "I'm An Agent" are classic synth rock. "Remind Me To Smile" is very commercial, yet strangely, never released as a single.
The weaker track, in my opinion is "Please Push No More", just too sugary and self indulgent for my taste, yet still considered a classic amongst the fans.
"Telekon" is best summed up as a unique album from a unique artist. This music could quite simply be no one else.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As an 80s kid I loved my synthy stuff so I loved Ultravox, Visage, Art of Noise, Human League etc. Of course, I heard Cars and Are Friends Electric by Numan at the time and liked them. But that was that - I never got or heard his albums and neither did my friends.
Roll on 25 years or so...my brother played me a track of this synth compilation - one of the tracks was 'Praying to the Aliens' by Gary Numan. This one grew on me and my brother. So I downloaded Replicas....and then the Gary Numan addiction started! Needless to say, I bought Pleasure Principle, Replicas and Telekon soon after.
What can I say? I dont like these because of nostalgia etc - Ive only been listening to these albums for about six months now! (non-stop I hasten to add!). Pleasure Principle is my favourite (just) with Replicas and Telekon a close second and third (dont underestimate Telekon - it really grows on you!). I couldnt name a favourite track only to say that dont think Gary Numan is a two-hit wonder (Cars and Are Friends Electric?) because he is definitely not. I would say that Im not so keen on his new stuff though as its a bit industrial for me.
If you like the old 80s synth stuff, if you like House, if you like weird electronic stuff - you NEED these three albums. Its as simple as that. If you think that all these oh-so-dull modern indie/rock bands are getting too much give these a go - you might like them, you might love them!
Also - dont forget the Pleasure Principle tour at the end of the year, Ive got my tickets already!
A little footnote - Dont underestimate Telekon! I did to be honest. If you give it a few listens it really grows on you and you start to love it. Its not quite as good as Pleasure Principle and Replicas but its very very close. Definitely takes longer to love this one but give it a go...you wont be disappointed!
Roll on 25 years or so...my brother played me a track of this synth compilation - one of the tracks was 'Praying to the Aliens' by Gary Numan. This one grew on me and my brother. So I downloaded Replicas....and then the Gary Numan addiction started! Needless to say, I bought Pleasure Principle, Replicas and Telekon soon after.
What can I say? I dont like these because of nostalgia etc - Ive only been listening to these albums for about six months now! (non-stop I hasten to add!). Pleasure Principle is my favourite (just) with Replicas and Telekon a close second and third (dont underestimate Telekon - it really grows on you!). I couldnt name a favourite track only to say that dont think Gary Numan is a two-hit wonder (Cars and Are Friends Electric?) because he is definitely not. I would say that Im not so keen on his new stuff though as its a bit industrial for me.
If you like the old 80s synth stuff, if you like House, if you like weird electronic stuff - you NEED these three albums. Its as simple as that. If you think that all these oh-so-dull modern indie/rock bands are getting too much give these a go - you might like them, you might love them!
Also - dont forget the Pleasure Principle tour at the end of the year, Ive got my tickets already!
A little footnote - Dont underestimate Telekon! I did to be honest. If you give it a few listens it really grows on you and you start to love it. Its not quite as good as Pleasure Principle and Replicas but its very very close. Definitely takes longer to love this one but give it a go...you wont be disappointed!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
with the advent of telekon gary numan with this his second solo album,in my own humble opinion,reached his zenith as a recording artist.this is an album where your favourite track will change on a daily basis according to your mood.albums of this quality are rare and i feel numan only ever got close to this album with the pleasure principle and warriors.so plug in those headphones turn off the lights and lay back and enjoy an album that truly kicked off the eighties in style!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
STILL A FAVOURITE.
Couldnt wait to receive this album after not hearing it for about 20 yrs. Remembered every note. Wonderful. If youve never heard it its well worth a go. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Carol Chillery
Should have bought it ages ago...
If you like music from this era buy it! It's all good but "We Are Glass" "This Wreckage" & "I Dream of Wires" all stand out. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Threesenuf
Numan Goes 'Widescreen'
A year after the awesome 'Pleasure Principle' came this album, considered by most to be the pinnacle of Gary Numan's achievements. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Pink
his last great album
Numan's loyal army of fans have got to the stage where they feel they have to proclaim every new release (Exile, Pure etc) as 'his best yet! Read more
Published 3 months ago by token socialist
The Most Uncommercial LP Ever to Reach Number One?
Upon its release in 1980, Record Mirror's cloth-eared journalist Chris Westwood wrote during the course of a vitriolic review ,"Gary Numan doesn't try to solve his problems, he... Read more
Published 7 months ago by R. J. Unsworth
the last of four classic albums
this album finds numan in full swing and at the peek of his powers following three equaly classic albums all released astonishingly in a two year period i find it very difficult to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by a numan fan
Numans best.
having been a fan since 79 and seen him so many times,i cant reccomend this album enough!i remember first buying it and just listening to it over and over. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Pablo Leone
Classic Numan....
Any album that inspired Trent Reznor can't be bad! This is Gary Numan doing what he does best. Industrial soundscapes, songs about androids, a great album overall....
Published 22 months ago by A.Q.S
Is this a review?
A brilliant album: what I'm writing about is the terrible product review. I know I'm being pedantic, but the whole point of product review is to be factual and concise, isn't it? Read more
Published on 6 Oct 2008 by D. B. Train
The definitive Gary Numan album
Telekon is my favourite Gary numan album and the best example of his early work, in my opinion. There are some wonderfully imaginative, atmospheric, melodic and quirky songs on... Read more
Published on 4 Jan 2008 by M. Evans
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