Ultravox - Vienna

hafler3o, Sep 02, 2007

Having listened to this album for the first time in god knows how long I can happily say it has stood the test of time well. I had it on cassette in my youth and wore it out, bought all the singles too, then moved on to pastures new. This album stands at a meeting point of new wave, new romantic, synth pop, and melodic rock. The album was a commercial success but a critical semi-failure, Ultravox were as despised as poor old Gary Numan from here on. The only criticisms I have are that New Europeans and Private Lives sound too similar, the lyrics to Western Promise now sound crass and the production has way too much treble emphasis. Other than that the tracks kick hard, synths wail, Billie Curries agitated Violin swoops, Warren Cann belts the Drums hard and it all comes together in a crisp way. Mr. X sounds spookily similar to Touch and Go from John Foxxs LP Metamatic (maybe John was humming it near the rest of the lads just before he quit!). The track Passionate Reply (B side to Vienna) is far better than the A side. Now thats quality!

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