Tag: new wave

Gary Numan – Cars / Metal [1979; ATCO Records, Beggars Banquet, Warner Bros. Records]

Leading with his biggest hit, this single collects two tracks from Gary Numan’s first album dropping Tubeway Army from the name.  “Cars” runs on droning synth tones and drum machine kicks, with Numan’s nasal voice intoning the benefits of automobile isolation.  The slick rhythms and ramping frequency of the low-punch percussion keep the track moving right along despite the spacy whine of the synths, with the chorus riff bringing a sharp hook for memory.  “Metal”, on the B-side, swerves into a slower, near-industrial groove for a story of AI experimentation, taking a straight ride from start to finish, with few bridges to slow the ride.  A nice pair of cuts from one of Numan’s high points.

The Art of Amputation – Distorted Pop Song / Californian English [2014; Ruby Music]

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The first song of this single moves through a sugar-glazed piece of pop, with drum-beats inflated to the point of sluggishness, caterwauling vocal indulgences, and down-mixed electric guitar crawling with spastic movements.  Bursts of saxophone in the later parts play up the ‘80s homages, but they’re worked in smoothly, and in spite of some weird choices, it all comes together with a natural texturing.  The AA-side lays down a bass-led piece of modern new wave, with multi-layered vocals competing with each other on the accentuation points and strong percussive pushes coming in on the chorus transitions.  Though “Californian English” plays things straighter than the first song, it also lands its hooks more effectively, and it’s easy to understand why the band didn’t want to consign it to standard B-side-ism.  A little off-putting with the posturing, but enjoyable on the whole.