Level 42 - Forever Now

The album that made it late

I just wonder was would be the history is we had this album instead of Guaranteed.

By the way if you can get the single with the mixed version of "love in a peaceful world", wich is shorter and with a little more rythm, Just get it In fact there are two singles the blue and the white.

If you want something more danceable, there is a version of "learn to say no" , mixed by K-Klass. It's the orange one. I rememember a yeloow one. but i am not shure what it was.

Probably the album with most remixes that never made it to the mainstream.

ahhh. I recommend the MArk King German DVD,





July 22, 2004

A good update of the L42 sound

While "Guaranteed" returned Level 42 to the land of classy, danceable pop-funk tunes (albeit with a rock edge) "Forever Now" is more in keeping with the band's original sound. It also puts the lie to the notion that Level 42 was really an "80s thing," bringing the best synth-pop band of the Material Decade nicely into the 1990s.

The Resurgence edition moves from mid-tempo balladry ("Billy's Gone," with a gospellish chorus), to acid jazz ("The Sunbed Song") to Simon and Garfunkellish pop ("Don't Bother Me.") The lush "Romance" even adds a 70s soul sheen to the group's sound.
And "Learn To Say No" as an album track is one of the best dance-oriented tunes Level 42 ever put out.

As usual, the vocals of bassist Mark King and keyboardist Mike Lindup shine. King's baritone veers from soothing to punchy, and Lindup, while a bit nasal when in King's range, is angelic when he goes to the falsetto that distinguishes so many of Level 42's best tracks.

The album may be a couple of tracks too long. "Play Me" "One in a Million" and "Forever Now" are fine songs in their own right but take away from the "edge" of the rest of the set. "The Bends" is a menacing blend of electronica, jazz and rock, but most of the time the beat is a bit TOO thick for such an polished song.

One would have liked to hear more of Phil Gould's skills as evident in this set as it was on the fine "World Machine." At his best, Gould's intricacy belonged in the same league as Phil Collins, Tony Thompson and Omar Hakim. He positively cooks on "The Sunbed Song," but you have to listen deeply to appreciate the quality of his snare and hi-hat work.

This might have been the Level 42 album that should have come out after "Staring At the Sun," no offense to the quality of "Guaranteed." It shows that L42 could stay modern and true to its roots. Let's hope that with King reviving L42 in 2002, there's more music in these talented guys. July 21, 2003

the last one

What must I say. The last album of my favourite group. With the help of drummer Phil Gould, Forever Now is a classic Level 42 album. It's better than the Guarenteed and Staring At The Sun album. Listen to songs as Past Lives, Time Will Heal and The Sunbed Song and you know what I mean. This album hits number 3 after World Machine and True Colours in my Level 42 album list. December 30, 2000

The real Level 42

This the must album for the Level 42 fans. With a new sound in some cases very close to Rap but still really L42. May 19, 2000

The Bass is Back

Initially, I was disappointed. I guess I was listening for some of the sound from my favorite CD "True Colors", which features the driving "Hot Water." Nothing grabbed me the first time through. The tempos of many songs seemed awfully slow to me, and the melodies uninspired. On the plus side, however, the famous Mark King bassline enjoys a richness that it has not had for many albums, although in most songs it still lacks the attack that converts a great bassline into a truly awesome riff. I decided to reserve judgement, however, until I had listened to it a few more times, many of my favorite albums being ones that didn't hit me quite right the first time I listened. Now after three listenings, the album has grown on me alot. The basslines on many of the songs are excellent, as is to be expected, and the melodies have grown on me too. I still find several of the songs to be mediocre, but I think this album parts with industry tradition by putting most of the good songs toward the end. There are several excellent songs with the classic Level 42 sound. If you are a die hard Level 42 fan, you'll relish the return of the prominent bass work. If you're new to Level 42, I'd recommend instead, "True Colors" and "World Machine" (the UK release) as primers to this great band. February 15, 2000

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