I am dust and analogue

Gary Numan's resurrection from post 80's gloom continues to rise. After his long period in an exile of "use to be a pop star" the recent album 'Splinter' has placed this affable man right back at the centre of the charts. It's a good thing that class will out. It doesn't always happen but it couldn't happen to a nicer guy... and you can also be sure he's sick of hearing that. Thing is being a moody bastard aint Gary's style even though his recordings are dripping with moody emotions.
This latest single I Am Dust" taken from of his 'Splinter' is one of the best tracks on the album. Produced by a genuinely moody bastard Trent Reznor, Numan's voice lifts the familiar Reznor synth heavy ostinato beats from a cry of desperation into yell of celebration. There's always been an echoe of Berlin era Bowie triumphant freedom with Numan's vocals and it always sounds so bloody uplifting. It might be a familier sound in Numan's music but it's not one anyone else can or does touch. It is simply Gary Numan's sound.

The video for "I Am Dust" has had extra attention too, and in direct contrast to the state of the art sound this has been made from an analogue source -

Directed by Logan Owlbeemoth with effects by Omebi Velouria, this video was made using a Tachyons + video glitch synth effected live via a HI-8 camera and a CRT television to create triply, blurry, VHS-style images of Gary Numan as he sings the song. In a nod to Gary's analogue roots, no computer post production was used in the making of this video.

But then Gary was always from the MTV generation of artists and this suits the whole thing perfectly, and also in keeping with the present psychedelic retake that's being seen more often.
It must all be giving the man an enormous boost to his confidence. Still relevant after all these years. Couldn't happen to a... (stop that ! - ed)

songs from a broken mind

Gary Numan returns from a 7 year break. To paraphrase a recent interview he explained there were too many distractions to be able finish anything. Too many songs unfinished and thrown away.
And by that he meant completely deleted. For a songwriter, that's either a very brave thing to do or slightly unhinged, verging on the neurotic. But then Gary has always been a fragile soul and he wears that curse openly, In past interviews listening to Numan talk about his rise to pop stardom in the 80's you always get the sense he was sort of hurled unintentionally into massive recognition. We all know the effects of such saturation can severely damage some musicians more than others. The thing is after all that pop worship and naturally alongside that comes the trolling, Gary Numan has always seemed a really decent guy.
Now after his recent break of 7 years it's a damn good thing to see his return to recording, and concerts to follow with the new album 'Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind'. See there, even the title reflects that fragility again, but the last thing 'Splinter' is, is fragile. It's a true return to the electronic density, texture and shear audio power in this sumptuous sound. Dark, even ominous with shards of musical technology shattering and reforming before your ears. His voice sounding not a day older than his first record, the lyrics have been well described as "confessional and sharply observational" (Ian Shirley). Numan always did have that turn of phrase that seemed familiar yet completely original in its use.
For artists since the 80's who delve into the sonic zone of electronics, from rap to electro-rock, and their influences have remained guarded there is now some open recognition by them that Gary Numan's music has inspired a whole new generation. Dues are finally being paid to the man.
'Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)' is released today.
And mighty impressive it is too.
Go and buy the album directly from his site.
Here is 'I Am Dust'.

UPDATE 16th October: Gary is currently on tour in the States this month (October). Here he is in the Amoeba Records store in Hollywood (where he's due to play a free gig today), talking about his favorite albums. A decent guy, like we said.

gary numan

Gary Numan received the ‘Legend’ award this month at the first ever Artrocker Magazine awards in London. Numan, who rose to fame in the late 70's as the front man, writer and producer for Tubeway Army, is considered one of the pioneers of new wave and electronic music. Numans later music would go on to be a lot darker and industrial sounding, though always keeping that familiar Numan sound.

Numan has said that his experimental style was developed in the early days by hooking up keyboards and synthesizers through guitar pedals to make noises that he liked. Although he is widely know for his electronic and synthesized music, Numan has stated that he has always primarily been a guitar player.

Numan's musical style and experimentation has been copied and covered by many musicians in many styles since first appearing in the music industry, with many famous names including Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Marylin Manson citing him as a huge influence.

Here is an amazing live performance of A Prayer For The Unborn from the year 2000 album "Pure"