By my own admission I can be quite cynical about reissues, but just sometimes, they come with something special. Numan is very prolific these days with releases beyond his studio album output. No problem with this, and I have to say that whilst these releases do not come cheap, the people in the Numan camp are very adept at putting together very desirable, brilliantly presented material.
Such is the case with the new 45th anniversary expanded edition of 'Telekon'. I have preordered the top of the range vinyl release and the CD version (force of habit that). Since ordering I have been listening to 'Like a B-Film' on heavy rotation! What a discovery! It is genuinely exiting to hear something completely new from 1980. I can only wonder about the decision making that left this track of the final cut of the original album. Whether as an album track or a B-side, 'Like a B-Film' was certainly good enough to see the light of day at the time.
Situations like this only ever make me wonder what else lies in the vaults in forgotten cannisters of studio tape. Remember how exciting it was back in '83/'84 to be presented with a wealth of 'unknown' material when the Tubeway Army E.P.s and 'The Plan' appeared. But for now, one track will suffice and its a good one!
Hi, like you, i've been playing 'Like a B-Film' on heavy rotation. I'm a little 'up-in--the-air' with the track: creatively, it sounds as if it came from an earlier time than the Telekon recordings. There's a definate whiff of Replicas/Pleasure Principle era about the instrumentation. The vocals are clearly almost ad-lib - an, if I'm honest, rather funny *(I won't be as cruel as to say laughable - but they almost are - I think Numan was taking the piss at the mic.) Like you, I've also preordered. Telekon is a very special album personally, and I think one of Numan's best. i would question the if there are any further lost demos or recordings from the Telekon period. Let's face it, there are only four extra tracks on the new edition. Its the remaster that I'm drawn to - rather than the three new tracks. New cover art is also rather uninspiring. Some of the original press shots taken at the time would have been more fitting. More reinventing of the wheel going on, i feel. Cheers M
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