Last July, I reported on Bobbi Style’s brainchild, the Access 2 Foundation. In a nutshell, Bobbi is breathing life into his dream of providing disabled-accessible music studios to all musicians. Since July’s post, he has been tirelessly rolling forward (literally!), not only gaining financial and physical support, but also opening his first Access 2 studio near his home in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
Some of the funding is a result of the hard work of musicians that have committed to donating their time and talent to create tracks for sale. Proceeds are then channeled into the Access 2 project. Bobbi, himself a wildly gifted singer/songwriter who started out as a vital part of the 80s goth/new wave scene (and continues to record to this day), has loaned his enormous talent to several tracks that are now available for purchase on iTunes.
Do yourself a huge favor; if you haven’t already done so, check out the whirlwind known as Bobbi Style. Then, do two very positive things with your money: purchase some great music for your library, and help support a worthy project created to ensure that all musicians have the chance to keep our world full of the music we love.
It has been well over a year since I saw/met Gary Numan in Orlando. During that time, he has recorded an incredibly moving album called Dead Son Rising, and has performed in multiple venues across Europe and Australia. Critics, who panned him for the last 20+ years, are again enamored of him, and rightfully so (although I think they’ve had their heads up their collective behinds for the past two decades, but that’s a rant for another post).
Recently, Mr. Numan engaged in a presentation called “SHOWstudio” where he performed several of his songs in a semi-unplugged (minimal back-up) style. The breathtakingly atmospheric videos are posted on YouTube and are way too fabulous to not repost here. Enjoy!
SHOWstudio: In Your Face ~ When the Sky Bleeds He Will Come ~ Gary Numan
SHOWstudio: In Your Face ~ Dead Sun Rising ~ Gary Numan
SHOWstudio: In Your Face ~ Are ‘Friends’ Electric? ~ Gary Numan
SHOWstudio: In Your Face ~ For the Rest of My Life ~ Gary Numan
Please do not copy any portion of this article without the express written consent of the original author. Requests for permission may be left in the form of a comment on http://raveandroll.wordpress.com.
“Dead Son Rising” CD by Gary Numan with Ade Fenton – released September 2011
Long awaited, Dead Son Rising is a theme-driven collection of electronica only the way Gary Numan, along with Ade Fenton, can create. Pounding and wistful, demanding and longing, tender and brutal, it is a study in impossible contrasts that work together so seamlessly as to be other-worldly. Words can only inadequately describe the music on this brilliant CD. If you love electronica/dark wave/industrial/goth, this is a must-have addition to your collection.
Resurrection The swell of the synthesizers backdropped with breathing sounds and static is a perfect indicator of what is to come on this epic CD. Something sinister yet magical is in the air, and we are about to be willingly drawn into its merciless grasp.
Big Noise Transmission Static noise and a driving rhythm section catapult us into a staccato mind-puzzle fraught with urgent, whispered pleas. Fully Numan-esque and gripping, this industrial anthem is a rock-solid testament to a direction Numan has whole-heartedly embraced over the past sixteen years. He shows us he has this genre fully mastered and ready for our listening pleasure. The abrupt end leaves us aching for more.
Dead Sun Rising Numan uses his signature vocals against a deeply satisfying electronic backdrop. There is no one on this planet that could pull off an electronic ballad as successfully as Gary Numan. It is the perfect melding of lyrics, vocals, and synthesizers that captures the soul and transports it to another dimension.
When the Sky Bleeds, He Will Come Numan and company use everything but the kitchen sink to deliver this masterpiece. Left to the devices of mere mortals, this song would result in listening confusion; in Gary and Ade’s more than capable hands, it is an extraordinary testament to pushing music to its limits and successfully achieving perfection.
For the Rest Of My Life Don’t let the title/lyrics fool you. This is no tender love song. It borders on an obsessiveness that is both scary yet oddly compelling. It is similar to approaching an accident scene on the highway, and not being able to avert your eyes. In fact, it makes the listener want to hit the “replay” button; not only to hear it again, but to validate the message.
Not the Love We Dream Of The stark piano notes that open this song are gorgeous. Enter Gary Numan’s voice, and what we end up with is a slightly off-kilter and purposeful story woven of disappointment and sadness. Who can’t relate to the melancholic message delivered here? We have all made mistakes that have devastated us. Numan and company put context to those feelings so we can unleash the demons within.
The Fall Gary advises us how to deal with being shattered, even telling us point blank that the world still goes on even if we cannot. This is a perfect song to play when things are falling apart in our lives, if only for the rhythm, which makes it impossible to sit still long enough to feel sorrow.
We Are the Lost The powerful and driving drumbeat that opens this track and anchors it throughout is a welcome diversion from the keyboards that usually take the limelight. Coupled with a Middle Eastern flair that Numan has previously and successfully brought into his music, this song resonates down into the listener’s toes. The textures are rich and colorful, like an open market full of hand-woven cloth displays.
For The Rest Of My Life (Reprise) Like a path winding its way through a dark forest, we are gently guided to a clearing where Gary awaits us to remind us of the lost love he introduced us to earlier in our journey.
Into Battle This track is a cacophony of sounds that starts out somewhat reminiscent of wind chimes in a stormy summer garden. But don’t be lulled into submission. The seemingly harmless wind chimes morph into the cadence and timber of something destructive and sinister. Even if you are on your guard, you are not going to be ready for the abrupt end. Signifying eternity, perhaps?
Not the Love We Dream Of (Piano Version) Again, we are treated to the stark piano notes winding through the introduction to this song. Slowed down and purposeful, almost funereal, we are reminded of mortality, mistakes, and failed missions. It is definitely a song of introspection, but with the change-up in tone and tempo midway through, Numan informs us musically that there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel.
Dead Sun Rising (Early Version) This version feels like it is played at a slower speed. Numan’s vocals are the focus with the lush accompaniment of electronica there merely to support the master as he works his craft. It is a delightfully welcome version of the title track, and the perfect close to a perfect CD.
Well done, Gary. You are a perfectionist, and our lives are enriched because of it.
That sound you hear to the north is not the rumble of a summer afternoon thundershower. It’s not the roar of a fast-approaching tornado, nor a slow-moving, yet powerful hurricane. That whirlwind off in the distance is the sound of a dynamo going from the usual thousands of revolutions per second to about a million.
The dynamo has a name—Bobbi Style—and the source of his energy is Access 2.
I showcased this perpetual-motion musician last fall (check out the post here). The article discusses Bobbi’s dream of “Bob-friendly” disabled-accessible studios to accommodate all musicians comfortably, no matter their physical limitations. Since then, Bobbi has formed the Access 2 Foundation, sent out a call for help to a world-wide music community, and the responses have been overwhelming. He is closer to realizing a dream that will benefit countless of musicians who would otherwise be physically deterred from sharing their creativity.
Bobbi has asked people like me to get his vision out there, to see if there are folks who can help to make it happen. He has shared with me that to even get one studio up and running, along with all of the special considerations needed to make the equipment and the location itself handicapped-accessible, it costs a minimum of $30-60,000. But, being the driven and optimistic man that he is, he has not let that daunting proposition stop him.
Already, he has completed work on a studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. There are further negotiations in process for studios in California, Nevada, Florida, and several in his native UK. He needs assistance to make these visions a reality. All he is asking for is a donation of time, talent, or treasure, whatever you feel comfortable with, to make his dream come true.
Time – Volunteers are needed to promote, advertise, and help with setting up the studios.
Talent – Bobbi plans release a compilation CD of songs that musicians have donated for the cause sometime this August. All proceeds will go to fund the foundation. Bobbi himself is busy writing and recording for this project. He reports:
“There are currently 38 bands/artists committed to the CD Synthetic Frequencies (it’s an industrial/EBM album). We’re now looking for more mainstream and multiple-genre artists/bands.”
Treasure – Items needed include: music equipment and accessories, instruments, memorabilia that can be auctioned, studio space, and cash.
It’s even helpful to go to the Access 2 site on FaceBook, “Like” it and leave a comment. Bobbi appreciates any show of support for this important cause. Whatever you feel you can do, please contact Bobbi directly at bobbi.style@access2foundation.com.
Once again, life got in the way and I was not able to compile the list for last night’s Retrospect. Thank you, Ed for sending it along – I listened to the show, and I am very appreciative of the Gary Numan dedication. It made my night.
Basement of Carruthers Hall in Queens University, Kingston, Ontario
ED-FM ~ Retrospect
80’s Music That Doesn’t Suck
If the “Listen Live” link on the CFRC Website doesn’t work, copy and paste this URL into your Windows Media Player: http://sunsite.queensu.ca:8000/
Join us in the Chat Room during the show – either click the link on the right menu under the Rave and Roll graphic, or here.
To listen to any shows that you may have missed, go to the CFRC website and look up the archives under the “Programming” drop-down menu. You can enjoy Ed’s previous shows in one-hour increments.
Gary Numan – We Have A Technical (ext)
Psyche – Insatiable
Cassandra Complex – One Millionth Happy Customer
Nina Hagen – African Reggae
Voice – Business as Usual In Beruit
Kraftwerk – The Model (catobonic Mix)
Band Of Outsiders – Skylight
Pukka Orchestra – Weekened (Comes Alive)
Clash – The Guns Of Brixton
Chalk Circle – Me, Myself and I
Frankie Goes to Hollywood – Welcome to The Pleasuredome
Siouxsie and The Banshees – Kiss Them For Me (ext)
Arkitex – First World Calling
Yello – Moon On Ice
Martha and The Muffins – Swimming
Echo and The Bunnymen – Over The Wall
Dead Can Dance – Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove
Please do not copy any portion of this article without the express written consent of the original author. Requests for permission may be left in the form of a comment on http://raveandroll.wordpress.com.
Paul Chandler ~ UK
Paul Chandler was kind enough to agree to be interviewed about what it’s like to be a Numanoid. A fan since 1978, he is one of the core, long-time group of fans that have followed Gary Numan since the very beginning of his career.
When asked, “What drew you to Gary Numan?” Paul had this to say:
“The early electronic sound and Gary’s vocal and image style is what drew me to Gary Numan. I was into music from an early age and was quite happy listening to bands like Slade and other glam rock artists. I did get bored quickly with the pop moulding that seemed to always happen; nothing different was going on, and I needed something that was not mainstream. Punk hit me straight away as it was a great escape from the humdrum. When I first bought (Tubeway Army’s) “That’s Too Bad,” I didn’t think that this was just another punk record. The music may have been of the same trend, but it was Numan’s vocals that drew me, and I felt that this was not quite right for a ‘punk’ record. “Bombers” confirmed that Tubeway Army were not typical punk at all, and something else was waiting to be unleashed! Replicas and The Pleasure Principle were the type of music that I had been waiting for! Ever since, I have filled my life with so much music and all because of Gary Numan and his style and uniqueness.”
Paul continues with an explanation of what Numan’s music means to him. “His music means everything to me. After hearing “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” it blew my mind! His music from the early days still means as much to me now as it ever did. It was like having someone be there for you at a difficult time and they came through for you; a friend who is always there for you.”
“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” via YouTube user scruffyonion:
Asked to provide the name of his favorite Gary Numan LP, Paul candidly responds, “Can I have 3? The Pleasure Principle, Replicas, and Telekon.”
Fortunately for Paul, there is not a limit in this series for how many favorite songs a Numanoid might list. He cites the following as his favorites:
“Here goes… Listen to the Sirens/Steel and You/Something’s in the House/Me! I Disconnect from You/Are ‘Friends’ Electric?/Praying to the Aliens/You Are in My Vision/We Are So Fragile/Airlane/Metal/Films/M.E/Conversation/Cars/On Broadway (Live)/This Wreckage/The Aircrash Bureau/Telekon/Remind Me to Smile/We Are Glass/I’m an Agent/I Dream of Wires/I Die: You Die/Slowcar to China/She’s Got Claws/Crash/I Sing Rain/Love Needs No Disguise/Music for Chameleons/This Is My House/We Take Mystery (To Bed)/Noise Noise/Warriors/The Iceman Comes/This Prison Moon/My Centurion/Sister Surprise/My Car Slides/Berserker/Cold Warning/Pleasure Skin/Creatures/Tricks/God Only Knows/Anthem/No Shelter/My Breathing/Unknown And Hostile/This is Emotion/Hunger/Voix/Respect/I Don’t Believe/Soul Protection/Confession/The Skin Game/A Question of Faith/Scar/Love and Napalm/Dominion Day/Prophecy/Dark/An Alien Cure/Pure/Walking With Shadows/Rip/My Jesus/Listen to My Voice/ I Can’t Breathe/Hybrid/Halo/Slave/In a Dark Place/Haunted/Before You Hate It.”
Paul recalls his most exciting Gary Numan moment as, “The first time I heard “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” and waiting for new albums!”
As for his favorite way to express his love for Gary Numan, Paul states, quite simply, “Loyalty.”
Paul continues, “When you follow an artist who has changed your life and given you an opening to absorb various other music, you do feel the highs and lows of their career. You want them to rule the world of music and to climb back into the limelight,when all goes dark and comes to perhaps a point of no return. When times were bleak for Gary Numan, regarding record sales etc., I always knew he would find his way again! With each record that was released, I kept hoping that this would be the one!
“Some may not approve of his vocal and music style, but there is much more to Gary Numan than meets the eye. You can hear on tracks such as “Crash” and “This Wreckage” that his vocals can be stretched. Often, because of his distinctive vocals, Numan is dismissed for having a high vocal range. I think that this is far from the truth! These vocal tones are what make him unique, and the great artist that he is and always will be!
Gary Numan gave phenomenally great performances billed as “Back To The Phuture” last weekend at the Troxy in London and the Manchester Academy. In Manchester on April 1, Gary Numan and band shared the stage with Recoil, Motor, and DJ Mark Jones. At the Troxy, on April 2, other artists included legendary John Foxx, Mirrors, Motor, DJ Daniel Miller, and DJ Mark Jones.
There are some fantastic fan videos of various songs Gary Numan performed, including one that he penned just that week (“Obelisk/Everything Comes Down To This”). I’ve linked to some of the better ones below. Enjoy!
Gary Numan gave his fans a taste of what’s in store from the upcoming and long-awaited album Dead Son Rising. He posted an announcement that segments from three of the album’s songs were available to preview on his site NuWorld.
The three songs are titled, “The Fall,” “Captured Underground Noise Transmission” (please, no comments about the acronym this title forms), and “When The Sky Bleeds, He Will Come.” All three are killer tunes, with Gary Numan’s signature Gothic/industrial sound apparent in each. There’s a full live version of “The Fall” on YouTube that we have been enjoying for some time. All of this begs the question, “When is the long-awaited album going to be released?”
Fans are hoping for a release prior to the Back To The Phuture shows scheduled for the Manchester Academy and The Troxy April 1 & 2. We have learned to live with a great span of time between releases because Gary is a notoriously detail-oriented perfectionist. No complaints there. His collections produced and released since 1994, although painfully few and far between, have been magnificently crafted works of which he deserves to be very proud.
Just a random aside – I posted a comment similar to this on David Marsden’s site in a discussion about what’s wrong with today’s music: The boss and I had an interesting non-work discussion the other day. He is a classically trained musician (as is my husband). I had the boss listen to “Angel Wars” by Gary Numan, and he made mention of the use of the tritone or “devil’s note” in the song. It seems that this tonal dissonance is used by many non-mainstream musicians, and it gives a more raw and cutting edge to the music. This tends to be the music I am most drawn to, because it evokes more than just an aural response – it actually resonates within the body, adding a physical piece to the overall experience.
If you haven’t experienced Sacrifice (1994), Exile (1997), Pure (2000), or Jagged (2006) with your entire being, you are missing out on some of the most cutting-edge and vital dark wave music made over the last 17 years. Successful as a punk, post-punk, then synth-wave pioneer, Gary Numan has never shied away from experimentation and reinvention. But, he really hit his stride when he crossed over to the heavier side of music. He bares his soul for all to see, building a safe haven for all of our darkest and deepest emotions to dwell as we lose ourselves in the hard-edged tunes born of his own emotion-riddled creations.
Am I anxious for more brilliant Gothic/industrial Gary Numan in the form of Dead Son Rising? Oh, yeah.
The 80′s band Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI) formed in Stourbridge, England in 1986. This band is definitely not for the faint of heart. In a huge departure from this site’s usual spotlight on 80s New Wave, Gothic, and post-punk bands comes a hard-core, cutting edge group that defies classification. Using elements of punk, New Wave, industrial, and alternative, flavored with a healthy dose of angst and fury, Pop Will Eat Itself couldn’t be any further removed from “pop,” which makes their nickname, the Poppies, ironic indeed. Think anti-Milli Vanilli in its most extreme form, and you will only begin to scratch the surface of the sound that PWEI generates full steam ahead.
PWEI produced a lot of music that seemed destined for a very narrow audience. It was definitely ahead of the 90s proto-punk industrial wave curve, but the path the band was forging remained largely ignored. Consisting of highly trained and experienced musicians from diverse backgrounds, Pop Will Eat Itself stormed into the music scene, oblivious of trends, and making music that suited their own creative needs. Little did the world know that these raw and unrefined musicians were forming a strong foundation for the 90s.
Check this band out. It may not be your taste, but listen with an open mind. It’s a trip to go back with a fresh set of ears and see how a raucous, noisy, and vital band “quietly” influenced a genre of music that was evolving and at the ready to take its place in the next decade. PWEI are unsung visionaries who contributed a whole lot more than the mere sum of their parts to the music industry.
“Not Now James We’re Busy” via YouTube user 1michelemichele1:
Discography
Box Frenzy (1987) Now for a Feast! (1988) This Is the Day…This Is the Hour…This Is This! (1989) Cure for Sanity (1990) The Looks or the Lifestyle? (1992) Weird’s Bar and Grill (Live) (1993) 16 Different Flavours of Hell (Best of) (1993) Dos Dedos Mis Amigos (1994) Two Fingers My Friends! (1995) Wise Up Suckers (BMG best of) (1996) The Radio 1 Sessions 1986-87 (1997) PWEI Product 1986-1994 (Anthology) (2002)
Times are tough – there’s no doubt of that. Each day we worry about losing our jobs, our homes, our prized possessions. But, amidst all the darkness, there’s a thread that keeps all of us going, giving us the will to survive, the strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other. And although today is the day in the United States that we choose to reflect on everything we are thankful for, let it be known that I am truly grateful for all the people and things that enrich my life, each and every day.
Topping my list is my husband, who unfairly struggles each and every day with a pernicious and little-known illness. He starts each day anew with a fresh outlook and the determination to not let his sickness overcome him. He is my inspiration, and helps to put my relatively minor and trivial complaints into perspective. He is also the one who continues to stand beside me, taking my idosyncrasies in stride, never judging me, and allowing me to be who I am.
Brian Eno/John Cale’s “Spinning Away” via YouTube user mimosaku:
The rest of my “list” is in no particular order, all of equal importance.
Gary Numan - there isn’t much more that I can say that I haven’t already said in previous posts. His music helps me to face the darkest hurts that life throws my way. He has been able to articulate his pain and disappointment in a way that touches my soul. That someone who has ridden the highest highs and lowest lows that life put in his path, and came out of it with a song on his lips to fight back the anger is truly amazing. How many people use having a “bad life” to explain away being low-life losers? I admire the ones who come out on the other side stronger, better people.
Gary Numan’s “Angel Wars” via YouTube user webbfoxx:
David Marsden - here’s a man who has brought underrated artists to hungry listeners his entire 50-year broadcasting career. He has worked tirelessly to ensure that listeners are exposed to talent that the stuffed shirts in boardrooms deemed trifling and unworthy. Starting out in Canada, and now broadcasting the world over, he remains the champion of the musical underdog, and the master of free-form broadcasting. His friendship, humor, and music playlists have been both uplifting and inspiring.
“A Tribute To David Marsden – Spoons/ “Radio Heaven” via YouTube user missparker0106:
Friends and family - you know who you are. I’ve either known you for my entire life, or you’ve just recently become a friend because of the blog, the Marsden chatroom, FaceBook, a shared love for Gary Numan or 80s New Wave, or YouTube. It doesn’t matter. I’m grateful for all of you because in your own special way you make my life more meaningful. I’ve had one special friend for over 4 decades, and so many others that have enriched my life over the past few years. My family has been with me my entire life, each member playing an important role in making me who I am. You are all scattered throughout the US, Canada, Europe, the Philippines, and even Australia. But, I hold each and every one of you close in my heart, cherished and loved for the riches you give me each and every day.
May you all be blessed eternally ~ and I remain ever thankful for all of you.
Gary Numan’s “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” via YouTube user dashproductions:
Last July, I reported on Bobbi Style’s brainchild, the Access 2 Foundation. In a nutshell, Bobbi is breathing life into his dream of providing disabled-accessible music studios to all musicians. Since July’s post, he has been tirelessly rolling forward (literally!), not only gaining financial and physical support, but also opening his first Access 2 studio near his home in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
