So, it's 1998 and Numan's winning streak continued. 1997's studio album 'Exile' took of from where 'Sacrifice' left off and again like it's predecessor this was mostly Numan's handiwork and his alone. Whilst chart success still proved to be elusive, the critical reception was positive (something that Numan had not enjoyed even in the first bloom of his success!).
The album presents itself as a cohesive body of work, once again a mix of film score and rock album 'Exile' was written along a theme of a Book of Revelations-esque show down with all of the accepted concepts of Christianity turned upside down. Numan's beef with Christianity and formalised religion was long established but this was his most forthright lyrical attack to date. Stateside I don't imagine that the album it sits in many fundamentalists collections!
Actually, chart success (whatever that entails now in a digital/streaming environment) would not return for a few more years yet, but with 'Exile' Numan had for sure regained his mojo and once again found his own musical niche that he would build on as the decade and the millenium came to a close.
FLAC: https://we.tl/t-euPJ2RcdaoVCcTLT
Artwork: https://we.tl/t-nUxDfjTa5FMCDMqW
This is a nice recording of the US leg of the 'Exile' tour. Many thanks to the original Dime uploader.
