John Foxx – The Garden
By Mark Dohmann
| Label: | Virgin – 2194 |
|---|---|
| Format: | Vinyl, LP, Album |
| Country: | UK |
| Released: | 1981 |
| Genre: | Electronic, Rock |
| Style: | New Wave, Synth-pop |
What is post punk? Is it a system? Is it romance?
John Foxx created a sonic signature which drove a whole bunch of musicians to create new works of art in the 1980’s. You may recall the 80’s band Ultravox with their big hit Vienna. Well if you wondered where “that sound” came from then it was created by the young art student from Lancaster UK.
John Foxx (born Dennis Leigh; 26 September 1948) is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox, before leaving to embark on a solo career (with Midge Ure eventually taking his place in Ultravox). Primarily associated with electronic synthesizer music, he has also pursued a parallel career in graphic design and education.
Andy Kellman of AllMusic noted that Foxx “was one of those cult figures known more through the recordings of others rather than those of his own making. His detached, jolting vocal style inspired mainstream and underground artists across the decades, from synth pop superstar Gary Numan to electro-techno duo Adult”.
The Garden is John Foxx’s second solo effort of underrated, early-’80s pop/rock with a decidedly electronic touch. Fans of Krautrock will embrace “Europe After the Rain,” the opening track. Fans of Ultravox later album Vienna will recognise the signature in the track “You Were There”. For a quick listen try Systems of Romance which harks back to his earlier album.
The Garden finds Foxx working with a core band on a series of themes and blending analog boards and guitar with driving bass rhythms and live drums.
Several tracks have keyboard breaks with modulators going into overdrive in soaring melodies with Foxx’s vocals completing the vision.
The final track The Garden opens to the sound of birds in a large garden with deep bass synth and drums filling in Foxx’s eloquent poetry. His voice is often detached into the background and the boards adding layers and layers.
As an audio trip some of these low bass tones will push the amps and drivers. Lots of space and reverb on instruments create deep soundstages and draw you into the world that John Foxx has created. For me it is Foxx at his best. Like looking at a painting and finally getting it.
The Garden is polished, epic post-punk of the finest variety. It easily draws parallels to U2, Simple Minds, and Echo & the Bunnymen in its driving, charging sweep.
The album can deliver mysterious, haunting moods with the keyboard parts and sound mix.
No doubt Foxx was a Bowie fan. If you’ve not heard this album as a Bowie fan you owe it to yourself to find out more about this pioneer. If you feel adventurous try Foxx’s Twilights Last Gleaming from his The Golden Section. Huge scale and sonic landscapes await from one of the real pioneers in electronic music
Track listing
Europe After The Rain 4:00
Systems Of Romance 4:03
When I Was A Man And You Were A Woman 3:37
Dancing Like A Gun 4:12
Pater Noster 2:34
Night Suit 4:27
You Were There 3:52
Fusion / Fission 3:50
Walk Away 3:54
The Garden 7:14