Astoria 2 London 12th November 1994

 

For me the high point of Numan's unexpected resurrection as an artist of inspiration and innovation came in 1994 with the release of 'Sacrifice'. As mentioned in earlier posts, Numan had clearly sat down and had a long hard think as to where he was and more importantly, where he wanted to be as an artist.

Perhaps he recalled that fortuitous occasion upon which a hired synthesiser was left in Spaceward Studios awaiting collection... an event that turned Numan on to the sonic possibilities that electronic music could offer. With 'Sacrifice' Numan removed all of the stops that had blighted his musical output in the preceding few years. The album knocked me sideways. If it didn't quite get me reaching for the eyeliner pencil once again, it did at least rekindle an interest in Numan that is still with me today. It was a penfiend, Angela, who knowing that my interest had waned to the point of almost complete disinterest, send me a cassette recording of the album in the full knowledge that this album contained enough of that '79/'80 feel about it needed to hook me back.

Looking back on the unexpected appearance of 'Sacrifice', I see it as a kind of 'missing link' between the holy of holies, 'Replicas' to 'Telekon' period and his new found success with the more industrial albums that have followed. Arguably, despite the album's failure to make any impact upon the charts, 'Sacrifice' is Gary Numan's most important studio album of his long career.

And it was true. Black was the new black! Numan's rethink was no more evident that in the short UK tour that he embarked on to promote 'Sacrifice'. Just take a look at the set list.... get the funk out! Anything with even a hint of a Prince bassline was purged. With just a few exceptions (two tracks from 'Telekon' and 'Noise Noise') only old material that was already in existance in 1979 was admitted. Remarkably, even 'Pleasure Principle' material didn't get a look in. As a big pre-Replicas Tubeway Army fan, until such time that Numan takes to the stage for a 'Tubeway Army'/'The Plan' set, this is my all time favourite Numan set.

I was at this gig along with a few notable new kids on the musical block. Elastica were present. I remember going up to Justine and suggesting that her band covered 'Listen To The Sirens'... she smiled but unless a demo is sitting in a record company vault somewhere she did not take up on the idea.

MP3: https://we.tl/t-gMOzWJl6UQ

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-vWmlr2doFI

Gary Numan Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone 8th November 1994

 

Nowhere was Numan's return to form more apparent than from the stage. Taking the career spanning set that had recently created a buzz within the fan base on tour with an album to promote into the bargain, a rebirth was in the making.

Listen to this recording from Folkestone and it is clear that something has clicked. There is an energy there that was completely lacking from Numan shows 18 months before.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-tMHfb7SyqK

Artwork: https://we.tl/t-TVxLxXA1D1

Sacrifice Review by Steve Malins (Mojo 1994)

 

GARY NUMAN

Sacrifice

(Numa CD1011)

Sacrifice is a one-man show, written and played by pop's most famous whipping boy, who has rediscovered some of the chill of his early work by returning to the raw DIY feel of Tubeway Army.

For much of the album, the electronics ghost through massive percussion loops, creating a stark, Gothic mood for Numan's downbeat story telling.

His softly spoken recollection of a recurring nightmare on 'Deadliner' recall the frozen electro-pop he revelled in more than a decade ago. However, 'Walk In My Soul' reveals that the dysfunctional extremes of old have matured into some warm-blooded romantisism, and a track like 'Magic' comes across as positively life-affirming. 6.

So at last a positive review, that perhaps is a little at odds with the 6 out of 10 rated given to the album. Steve Malins of course wrote 'Praying To The Aliens' in collaboration with Numan.

Missing In Action (UK Music Press 1994)

This piece that appeared in a UK monthly music publication, I cannot remember which now kind of sums up the situation as it existed in 1994. A man at the bottom yet looking up.

Gary Numan TV Sessions

Here's a random audio selection of some TV sessions that Gary did in the mid '90's.

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-9DadnP4QYE

01. Cars (In Bed With Medinner 1994)
02. Scar (In Bed With Medinner 1994)
03. Are ‘Friends’ Electric? (In Bed With Medinner 1994)
04. Friends (Tom Binn’s Munchies)
05. Dark (VH1 Session)
06. Friends (VH1 Session)
07. Noise Noise (VH1 Session)

In Bed With Medinner Session 1994 Broadcast 22nd April 1994

In the early to mid-90's comedian Bob Mills hosted an excellent late night sketch show that also showcased weekly a mix of new and old material from bands that saw their first taste of fame in the late '70's and early '80's (The Damned, SLF, Buzzcocks all featured).

In 1994 following the release of the return to form 'Sacrifice' album, Gary Numan started on the long haul back to critical acceptance and it was this kind of rare TV exposure that would have done much to bring Numan back to the attention of an audience who had probably last heard the name 10 years previously before his creative slide.

FLAC: http://we.tl/AXQhYhiNh9

01. Cars
02. Scar
03. Are 'Friends' Electric?