Foxx's First And Best, 10 Aug 2001

Even those who bought the original Virgin CD release of this back in 1993 (which is now out of print) should give this a look. The sound quality is hugely improved by the remastering, with the hiss that was so evident on the Virgin CD eliminated.

As with the earlier CD, there are bonus tracks, but it's a different set this time around. "Film One"'s still here, but "Glimmer", "Mr No" and "This City" have been added, the first two of which haven't appeared on CD before ("This City" was on the _Assembly_ compilation). "20th Century" is here again, this time accompanied by its A-side "Burning Car" (which also had previously only appeared on _Assembly_). Finally, there's "Miles Away". The B-side of "Miles Away", "A Long Time" has moved to the _The Garden_ CD, as has "Swimmer 2" (which never really belonged with this material anyway). "Young Love", the previously unreleased track that appeared on the earlier CD has gone completely, thus giving fans a reason to hold onto the first CD release (unless the early rarities comp (_Metamatica_, I think it was to be called?) ever makes an appearance).

The presentation has improved dramatically too - the booklet doesn't have that faded, photocopied look that the original CD had, there's still lyrics, there are plenty of contemporary photos, and there's a bit of bio (that cribs rather heavily from the liner notes of _Assembly_ and _Modern Art_).

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Foxx's first and probably best work, 2 May 2005

As the man himself said about this album; he spent much of his time alone, trying to imagine how music would sound if the American music market had never existed. And it seems the sound that Foxx found was sparce and machinic.

Bare synths and often just percusive sounds make much of the bulk, or lack of. Foxx is very happy to let a song survive with a mere hint of a melody only occasionally overpowering the listener with a shear mass of synth and vocal on songs like 'Burning Car' and 'He's a Liquid'. Highlights of the album include the almost videogamic 'Touch and Go' and the striped down simplicity of bonus track 'Glimmer'.

This is really entry point John Foxx for any new listener. His later works 'The Garden', 'Golden Section' etc. built a much more anthemic soundscape.

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