A Review of "Machine + Soul" by Derek Langsford
(who gave it 6 out of 10)
August 19th 1996

Cover:

Gary poses on front and back in a different leather outfit than before. On the front he's in the bottom right looking at the camera which is looking down on him. The background is tones of beige and brown similar to the water effect on Isolate & Metal Rhythm (he seems in a rut visually now). The word 'MACHINE' in a modern/futuristic typeface is across the top in large letters with '+ Soul' handwritten in red (looks like Gary's handwriting). In the bottom left appears Gary's name with 'Gary' in red handwriting and 'Numan' in the block letters. On back is Gary facing right with hands holding his belt or something. The names of the songs are jumbled at all angles on the right giving no clue to the song order (annoying as the correct order is only to be found on the disc itself which is not helpful sorting the album out on initial listenings).

Gary is looking pretty old here. The pallid make-up does not help either. He looks heavier than before. Is Gary becoming one of music's 'old farts'? Still, none of us are getting any younger and it's the music that counts.

Booklet:

Full lyrics plus credits (white type on black), 4 b&w photos from the same session as the cover, and a thank you and dedication of the album to the fans. He seems to genuinely realise that we have been keeping his career afloat for years now.

The Music:

Overall I would say this is significantly better than 'Outland'. Gone for the most part are the horrendously dancy beats and dance orientated purcussive clutter. There is still a strong beat to many of the tracks and the obligatory famale backing vox plus funky guitar licks but the difference is that the beats pound in a more techno style; there's more drive. Guitar is more prominant but not dominant. Apart from 'Emotion' the lyrics are less repetitive than of late but some of the old ideas still abound. I'd have to admit some of the album getting to be quite catchy.

The tracks:

Machine and Soul: this is yet another version (5 altogether with the singles). I must admit I have a hard time separating them out. Still I do like the track. Numanesque instrumantal intro and then a driving beat with soaring guitar and plucked guitar for the hook. The chorus strikes me as being very similar to 'The Secret' chorus which is not a bad thing IMO. I think I prefer the single to 'The Skin Game'.

Generator: apart from the intro of "hey, hey-hey, hey ,hey-hey" from the female singers this track is somewhat average for the album. I don't like the intro at all. The beat has tribal overtones. Curious song structure a fade to nothing with reentry just before the song ends. Caught me out the time before especially as it collides into 'The Skin Game'.

The Skin Game: yet another mix though not terribly distinguishable from the others. Longer intro than the single version but not as long as the remix.

Poison: this for me is the low point on the album; 'Dark Sunday' revisited with elements of the Metal Rhythm sound on it. The chorus is its only saving grace.

I Wonder: with Gary doing covers I was half expecting this to be a cover of the ABBA song of the same name but it isn't (phew, despite my having a soft spot for ABBA). But, we have an excellent ballad. Unlike most of you it seems I like his slower songs and this is one of his best to date IMO. As usual it is remiscent of earlier songs (Don't Call My Name, Heart) but still a top notch effort.

Emotion: the song that will not die but keeps *US* in agony. A different mix again with a more solid bass beat but still the same old song - the epitome of what is wrong with Gary's recent fare. It's appearance here makes its presence on 'Isolate' even stranger (we surmised that this was to be its only appearance on an album despite it being 5 years newer than the rest of the material on 'Isolate').

Cry: You know how Gary has some songs that are at first run-of-the-mill but still end up constantly reverberating through your brain. I've been hooked like that with this one. Both this and 'I Wonder' are significantly different from the versions on the 'Machine and Soul 1' single. The ending is curious with an electric piano and a sound which reminded me heavily of Heaven 17.

U Got the Look: same as on 'The Skin Game ' single. As Al Crawford says "Numan vs. Prince and the song loses". I would think this song might go down well live but does not belong on an album IMO. Sound reminds me of Robert Palmer's 'Addicted to Love' as have a few of Gary's songs.

Love Isolation: finishing off with another excellent ballad. Reminiscent of 'Heart'. Perhaps one reason I like the ballads is that he explores synth sounds more without there being a dominant beat or guitar line. Still a strong finish.

So, despite my saying a few weeks ago I'd wait for a critique before I got any new Numan it looks like I am one of the first on the list to actually get "Machine and Soul" (it was waiting for me after my trip to Honolulu along with the two singles). It's better than 'Outland' which is not saying much I suppose but it does remind me of Metal Rhythm (New Anger outside of the UK), an album I have grown to like a lot and respect. It has some obvious and classic Numan melodies and effects. There are still elements of 'Outland' in that he is using the same instruments but the sound is not as dancy (perhaps IRS *were* responsible for 'Outland's' Janet Jackson mix). Despite the odd low (Poison, U Got the Look) I think this is an album I will increasingly like in the future.