Gary Numan

Pleasure Principle (1979) 

The Pleasure Principle was the follow up album to Replicas as he went solo and released one of the greatest synth albums, with an amazing use of swirling chords and deep bass note rhythms. Cars was of course the huge single success, an offering with an unusual song structure as the lyrics disappear half way through, leaving a long instrumental ending. The whole album has a similar sound and it remains one of my favourites of all time.

Replicas (1979)

Replicas was released under Tubeway Army and is a thematic album throughout, based on a futuristic sci-fi world featuring robot relationships with humans. It was so different to anything i had heard before and i instantly knew this was my music. Are Friends Electric is a more lengthy song with an off key bridge which still makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. There are many dark story led songs, and the album cover cleverly ties in well with the theme and lyrics.

Telekon (1980)

Telekon was the next album release after The Pleasure Principle, with a more layered approach to the songs and arguably his best ever album overall musically. There are some great build up tracks such as I Dream of Wires and Aircrash Bureau, with a stronger influence of classical string-like chords with an excellent bassline and piano overlays. The two single releases of the time, We Are Glass and I Die You Die, are not even on this album but have been added to later releases.

Splinter (2013)

Jump forward decades to the release of Splinter : Songs from a Broken Mind and we have an amazing return to top form throughout this album, which had been building through his previous releases. This album is themed on horror of a broken mind through the artwork images and lyrics. We’re the Unforgiven is and example of a masterfully intricate merging of pulses, sounds and dark rhythms which build threateningly, and the construction of strange sounds and bridges in this album are amazing.

Dance (1981)

Dance was the follow up album to Telekon and was the start of a fretless bass period, which ultimately led to a reducing commercial popularity. However this album remains a great one, mixing lengthy songs at over nine minutes such as Slowcar to China with more standard length pieces. She’s Got Claws was a more commercial single style, but this release moved towards a more funky groove approach.

Intruder (2021)

Intruder is the latest release and a great mix of darkness and melody, where the theme is planet earth crying out to mankind over it’s devastation and destruction. Now and Forever and The Gift are among my favourite tracks of his, and the highest points on this album exceed those on his more recent releases. Overall it is a great companion to Splinter.

I Assassin (1982)

The follow up album to Dance continuing with it’s fretless bass sound, interspersed here with occasional saxophone and soaring chords. There are plenty of stand out moments in and album that blends well as a whole, and has grown on me over time. There are rhythmical grooves and great basslines, with eastern variations in A Dream of Siam. The 1930’s Rust feels like it forms the backdrop a old detective movie.

Berserker (1984)

The final great album of the 80’s before he musically started to produce records with more mixed results. This is a great piece of programmed wave synth with repeating drum and bass rhythms, and was one of his last iconic looks as the bold blue and white iceman. This album is industrial and has a trio of amazing tracks in Berserker, My Dying Machine and The Hunter.

Tubeway Army (1978)

The forerunner to Replicas with a more raw sound at the back end of the punk era, this is more electric guitar driven but the keyboards are in there as are the sci-fi influences in here which would be more fully formed in the next album. I can remember listening to this at school in the classroom on cassette.

Pure (2000)

His heaviest album in terms of its guitar rock, and lyrically explores menacing themes from the shadows and dreams, but also covers the severe emotions from loss. Walking with Shadows is a dark and almost hypnotic pulsing song which tells the story of a girl in a coma being menaced by dark entities while unconscious. This album is not for the faint hearted and has a threatening vibe.

Savage (2017)

The follow up to the album Splinter was Savage, another theme album which focuses on the dying earth, post Armageddon. The End of Things is a great mix of a more melodic verse followed by an angry and frustrated chorus. It All Began With You is another of his great build up tracks that just escalates from a quiet beginning into emerging rhythms with piano and then an exquisite randomized note finish which just carries you away.

Jagged (2006)

The turn of the century brought him back to top form with both the Pure and Jagged albums. There is little to choose between them and both are considered pretty dark and menacing compositions, generally leaving you with a feeling that something terrible is watching you or about to happen. This release is not overly well recorded and really needs a remaster.

Dead Son Rising (2011)

This album was put together initially by producer Ade Fenton, building from off cut track sessions and creating full songs. It was intended as a filler album between Jagged and Splinter and ended up as a mix of instrumentals and vocal tracks, but overall is another good album from the more recent era, fitting in well alongside the Jagged album in particular.

Strange Charm (1986)

The follow up to The Fury and while a mixed bag of tracks it does contain an all time favourite of mine called My Breathing, which is one of the few songs of his with female vocals included that actually works well. I saw this played live at the Royal Albert Hall with an orchestra backing him and it was the best song of the evening. The Sleeproom is similarly a high point track alongside another quite industrial production.