Level 42 - Retroglide

First new studio album in 10 years by this Brit-Funk-Pop band led by vocalist/bassist Mark King. Features songs co-written with original member Boon Gould (who also plays on one track on the album) plus the return of original keyboardist Mike Lindup. 11 tracks including 'Drive Into The Sun', 'Way Back Home' and 'Rooted. Universal. 2006. Album Description

Dive into the Retroglide

These songs are awesome, the best ever! They have a way of growing on you, there are looping melodies in the layers that get to your subconscious and then you have to hear it again and again. I also like the subject matter, I could see this as a concept album or make a sci-fi/drama movie about it. "Dive into the Sun" is a typical M.K. jam, but then as "Rooted" starts with a clarion call into very different soundscapes and chord progressions, and "Way Back Home" starts off as one song and then morphs into another, very nicely done. "Sleep Talking" takes us into lyric overload city, and the title track has beautiful synths and vocals that remind me of early L42 days. I don't even begin to tire of this album towards the end, as "Hell Town Story" tells a twisted tale of family life. I don't know what else to say, I love the bass grooves throughout as well as the lyrics and vocal harmonies, and the beats. This is just about the perfect album! May 29, 2008

GREAT COMEBACK ALBUM!!! WORTH EVERY PENNY

Like many people, I was most disappointed with Forever Now but this band has put out so much great music in the past, that I figured I'd spend $30+ for the import and give them one more chance.

Certainly worth every penny. The boys are back. Great lyrics, great vocals and guitar work. September 22, 2007

Some good songs, but....

The mix on this studio CD is thin and muddy, hardly state-of-the-art for 2006. Whoever mixed and mastered this CD needs to get the cotton out of their ears and join the 21st century. There's a live double-CD set from the Retroglide tour available via Mark King's web site. Get that one instead; you'll get terrific performances of five of the strongest tunes on Retroglide with greatly improved sound, plus a bunch of Level 42 classics. July 12, 2007

Poorly Mixed or Mastered

I'm a big fan of Level 42 and was very excited to see they had a new album out. I know they not as popular as they were, but couldn't figure out why it wasn't released here in the states. I know why now. The songs are standard Level 42 fare, but most of it is so poorly mixed/mastered I can see why it didn't get picked up over here. I loaded it into my ipod with anticipation, but as soon as "Dive into the Sun" started I thought maybe I had a setting wrong in iTunes when I imported it that compressed the hell out of it. (I've since listened directly from the CD and it sounds the same). Mark King's bass sounds muddy and without punch (as a bass player this was disappointing). There are no credits (that I could find) for mixing or mastering in the liner notes. Perhaps they mastered it themselves and threw the whole thing through a compressor (that's what it sounds like at least). Very disappointing. July 7, 2007

Let It Grow On You

If you are a hardcore Level 42 fan you will appreciate the musical turn this band has taken. If you are expecting the pop/jazz/fusion/funk sound of the eighties exclusively, you are liable to be disappointed. Having said that, I love this record. If you liked "Guaranteed", which was a stellar achievement, this is a close second. Although this album starts off with a more rock oriented song, "Dive into the Sun", it has the trademark twists and turns that made Level 42 so unique. If you liked the songs of old, "It's over" and "Leaving me now", you will like the slower songs on this effort. While the slower songs do not sound like their predecessors, they are very well crafted and melodic with a more contemporary sound. The song that comes close to sounding like vintage Level 42 is "Sleep Talking", which is almost worth the price for the entire cd! The song is simply infectious with a great groove and that slap bass technique so unique to Mark King. The song "Retroglide", has a nice slow groove and displays great muscianship with a mature sound that still harkens back to songs like "Leaving me Now". But without a doubt the slower but grooving sound of "All Around" makes you want to get in your car and drive around with the stereo cranked up. The vocals on this song are also very strong. In fact this entire collection is strong vocally. It may be some of the best vocals Mark King has ever laid down. The back-up vocals blend exceptionally well with Mark's vocals. The more you listen to these songs the more they grow on you. The layers are subtle and require a close listen. One of the best slow songs is "Clouds", which evokes a certain melancholy and Mark and the other vocalists fairly well exceed themselves. Music lovers that really never even familiarized themselves with vintage Level 42 would do well to buy this record. But if you are of a mind to like the plethora of garage bands that can be found at the end of late night television shows like Letterman and Leno, you will not be able to appreciate the muscianship level of this band. (also, there is a great dvd available of the 2006-2007 Retroglide tour) June 6, 2007

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