Vienna

Incidentally, Systems... is Midge Ure's favourite
album and he knew the songs intimately when he
was working with keyboard genius Billy Currie
in Visage, something which definately counted in
his favour!

Midge Ure brought more than just Captain Kirk
sideburns to the band: he brought a shimmering
commercial sheen which blended with their risky,
edgy earlier sound.

The sequencing of the tracks on the album works
a treat: Astradyne, the album's instrumental
opener sets the tempo with Billy Currie's superb
violin well to the fore. No sooner has the track
concluded then we're straight into Ure's choppy,
strident guitar of New Europeans, the contrast
between the textures is awesome.

The band gigged this album extensively before
and after it was recorded in the spring of 1980
so they were as tight as a gnat's chuff when
the tapes rolled.

Private Lives is ushered in with Currie's classical piano flourishes and then all hell
breaks loose as their trademark duelling guitar
and ARP Odyssey vie with each other to pass you
their energy.

Four singles were released from this album,
Sleepwalk and Passing Strangers not quite
getting the success they deserved. This all
changed with the title track...

Edited down to a four-minute version (without
the moody, swirling synths on the intro), it
was the track which brought them to the public.
It's a classic, what else can you say? Currie
relates that the hairs on the back of his neck
stood up the first time Ure sang it to the band.

The four tracks of the second side are written
to be a sequence: starting out with the stark beauty of Mr X with its precise drum programming
and shifting bass patterns and then on into Western Promise, a hymn to Ure's previous tour
of the far east as temporary lead guitarist in
Thin Lizzy.

Western Promise is an incredible track. A minimal
sequencer emerges from Mr X as it fades away and
a haunting melody rises up before Cann's drums
crash in. Apparently they recorded Warren Cann's
furious drumming in the foyer of RAK Studios in
London due to its reflective surfaces and managed
to get a decent take just before the neighbours'
complaints brought the old bill around!

Ure gives one of his finest vocal performances
before the track shudders to a halt and the
moody Moogs come in to lead us into Vienna itself.
The track is probably the album's emotional
highpoint; the textures working so well together
and Currie's violin in the break bringing a
different quality altogether. It deserved to be
number 1 but was eclipsed by a novelty record.

The album concludes with All Stood Still; a track
which sees several changes of the light and shade
they wanted to capture and yet the song has an
ongoing urgency that is irrepressable.

Simply exquisite and one of the landmark albums
of the last twenty-five years.

So buy it!
Al Ferrier

Most of the songs feature synth solos by Billy Currie playing an ARP Odyssey, which sounds something like a cross between a violin and a guitar. Currie also plays some amazing violin and viola on some songs, most notably Astradyne, Mr. X and the title track. And drummer Warren Cann takes electronic percussion to a whole new level on this album.
The title track Vienna is one of the best songs ever recorded in my opinion. A beauitful blend of electronic and classical instrumentation. I do believe it was a hit all over the world except the US of course. Ultravox were just too European for mainstream American ears at that time. Pity...for mainstream America that is. The only place you'd hear Ultravox at that time was on college radio, so mainstream America missed out on some amazing music.
This re-release has some b-sides to singles included all of which are good songs...Passionate Reply and Waiting are standouts to me. Herr X is an interesting version of Mr X with the vocals in German. Also included is the breakthrough video Vienna which was probably the first video to look like a mini movie. Watch for the tarantula on the sleeping guys face.
With all the extras I think you get a lot for your money with this cd.

This is a must have for any electronic music fan.
Buy it and enjoy the great band Ultravox was.

There really isn't anything to fault on this album, apart from maybe the title track, which I've probably heard a few too many times. I was also surprised that All Stood Still was released as a single, I think a case of trying to squeeze a little too much from the original release. Still, mustn't grumble.

The album kicks off with the magnificent Astradyne instrumental, still one of my favourite Ultravox tracks. Their use of electronics, screeching guitars (fed through goodness knows what!) and violin complement each other perfectly. There is a definite European feel to the album, not least on tracks such as Passing Strangers (another wonderful single) and New Europeans. I only really feel let down the aforementioned All Stood Still and Mr X, which is a bit throwaway to me. At least on this expanded version they've included the Vienna b-side, Passionate Reply, which surely would have sat nicely on the original release?

Because Vienna was such a huge hit, I always felt their subsequent albums were somewhat diluted and none had the feel of Vienna. If you only own one Ultravox album, then make it this one.