Gary Numan - Telekon

One Of The Best Albums Of All Time.

No, that's not an exaggeration. Any fan of New Wave or synth music who doesn't own this CD is missing a huge slice of the genre's history.

"Telekon" is Gary Numan at his absolute zenith. It's the sound of a master craftsman producing an unquestioned masterpiece.

Songs like "I Die: You Die" (my personal favorite), "We Are Glass", "The Joy Circuit", "I Dream of Wires", "Remember I Was Vapour", "I'm An Agent", and "This Wreckage" are some of the best tracks produced in the entire decade of the 1980s.

Numan had a few great albums before and since "Telekon", but this is the "Thriller" of New Wave. Buy it, find a quiet spot, slip on your headphones, and prepare to enter into a sonic journey of rare vintage. An unbelieveable musical accomplishment, this CD ranks as one of the best albums ever released. Five stars! June 18, 2007

This CD release has several alternate versions, too

Not only is this one of Gary's highest points (in a career full of brilliance), but I'm surprised nobody here has noted that this new version contains several alternate versions of this classic, classic record.

Some are very subtle, like a pitch-shift effect on "Remind Me to Smile," or a different mix on "The Joy Circuit," which emphasizes the VU-style string madness at the end.

But it's really shocking to hear the COMPLETELY different "Please Push No More" (seriously -- the alternate synth lead is shocking) or to finally have the alternate take to "I Die: You Die" on CD (though its lead vocal isn't quite as powerful as the better-known version).

It'll be a tiny bit disappointing to anyone who doesn't have the original mix of the album on CD already, but the songs still carry the day effectively. Truly one of the best albums in my collection. May 6, 2007

Remastered Joy.

Telekon is another must have Numan album. There is lots to admire from this album, and to hear it, in all it's remastered glory is just a sheer joy! Classic stuff indeed. October 13, 2006

The Best of the Trilogy

Replicas was good, but patchy, Pleasure Principle was on the money, loved it. Telekon, however, has me hypnotized. Numan at his peak. The Pleasure Principle refined and perfected. Also, not big on the later industrial Numan, but did enjoy the Telekon remixes on Hybrid. Anyone who superficially thinks Gary Numan was "cold" need only listen to "Please Push No More", though the triumphant, soaring, romantic even, synth hooks should be enough. Synthesized, yes, but in my ears, warm and human juxtaposed with the Replicant persona. August 13, 2006

Telekon > Pleasure Principle >= Replicas

Compared to its two execellent predecessors, Telekon is a much darker affair. It's a "deep" record in every sense of the word, on par with - and even surpassing in intensity and subtlety - albums such as Bowie's "Low" or Eno's "Before & after Science". A milestone in electronic music - nothing less.

May 18, 2006

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