Comments for Ultravox, Rage In Eden

One of the best new-wave recordings ever made, in my opinion. Ultravox was at the peak of their artistic and popular form on "Rage In Eden", and it has stood the test of time well. Most of the musical output from the European "new wave" of the ''80s (Flock of Seagulls,Human League) sounds very dated, but not this. I still play the track "Mr. X" in my CD player when AOR radio begins to grate on my nerves. Not known for their listenability quotient, Ultravox gets almost danceable on this album with cuts like "The Voice" and "The Thin Wall" leading the charge. A must-have for new-wave aficiandos!

Produced by Ultravox.

THIS IS (IN MY OPINION) ULTRAVOX BEST AND MOST COHESIVE ALBUM. AS THE FOLLOW-UP TO THE IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL 'VIENNA', 'RAGE IN EDEN' HAD MUCH TO LIVE UP TO, AND ALTHOUGH THE TWO SINGLES LIFTED FROM THE ALBUM; 'THE THIN WALL' AND 'THE VOICE' NARROWLY MISSED OUT ON THE UK TOP TEN, THE ALBUM CHARTED TO NUMBER FOUR. BOASTING SOME OF THE MOST ARTY/PRETENIOUS LYRICS EVER COMMITED TO VINYL (SAMPLE: 'DISCIPLES OF THE NEW WAY, PORTRAITS IN THE SAND, SEE WHEN THEY RUN THEIR LONGEST MILE, HOLDING CAPS IN WET HANDS'), THE BOMBASTIC SYNTH-WORK, EXEMPLIFIED BY MUCH OF ULTRAVOX TYPICALLY BEAUTIFUL ORCHESTRATION, EASILY OVERCAME THE OCCASIONAL LYRICAL 'EXCESSES.'

KICKING OFF WITH THE EXTENDED VERSION OF 'THE VOICE', AN ANTHEMIC OPENING BEST ILLUSTRATED BY IT'S 'NO EXPENSE SPARED' PROMOTIONAL VIDEO (IT WAS 1981 AFTER ALL), THE MOOD SHIFTS DOWN A GEAR ON THE EXCELLENT 'WE STAND ALONE', MOVING SMOOTHLY INTO THE 'RAGE IN EDEN-DEATH IN THE AFTERNOON' SUITE, A BLISSFUL FESTIVAL OF ELECTRONICA UNRIVALLED BEFORE OR SINCE. 'THE THIN WALL', HERE IN EXTENDED FORM, WAS THE LEAD-OFF SINGLE, PERHAPS A SLIGHTLY STRANGE CHOICE IN VIEW OF THE STRENGTH OF 'THE VOICE' BUT A CLASSIC NONETHELESS. 'THE STRANGER WITHIN', A THINLY VEILED PAEAN TO PARANOIA, HAS PERHAPS NOT DATED QUITE AS WELL AS THE REST OF THE ALBUM, COMING ACROSS TODAY AS BEING A LITTLE LONG & OVERBLOWN. 'ACCENT ON YOUTH', A HEARTFELT TRIBUTE TO THE AGONIES OF ADOLESENCE STILL SOUNDS FRESH, AS DOES THE INSTRUMENTAL 'ASCENT', BEFORE THE NOSE-DIVE INTO THE ALMOST ACOUSTIC 'YOUR NAME', A TRACK YOU EITHER LOVE OR DON'T. I'M THE LATTER I'M AFRAID, BUT I KNOW IT HAS IT'S ADMIRERS.

THE EMI GOLD ISSUE OF THE ALBUM FEATURES THREE BONUS TRACKS: 'I NEVER WANTED TO BEGIN', THE EXCELLENT B-SIDE OF 'THE THIN WALL' (SUPERIOR TO THE A-SIDE IN MY OPINION), AND THE EQUALLY EXCELLENT 'PATHS & ANGLES', THE FLIPSIDE OF 'THE VOICE'. A FAIRLY POINTLESS, BUT HISTORICALLY INTETRESTING EXTENDED VERSION OF 'I NEVER WANTED TO BEGIN'COMPLETES ALMOST AN HOUR OF PURE 1981 NOSTALGIA. I THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND THIS ALBUM TO ALL ELECTRONICA BUFFS--GO FOR IT!