Thanks to Lawrence (losenotaminute) for his selection for this week.
This week I have chosen Dream Into Action by Howard Jones.
This was Howard's second album, released in 1985. IMO this is electronic music at its best, with imaginative use of synthesisers to create rich and engaging sounds, coupled with good song-writing and meticulous production values. He is still touring regularly.
YouTube - No One is to Blame
Discogs - Dream Into Action
Track listing:
Side One
1."Things Can Only Get Better" - 4:02
2."Life In One Day" - 3:39
3."Dream Into Action" - 3:45
4."No One Is to Blame" - 3:28
5."Look Mama" - 3:53
6."Assault And Battery" - 4:51
Side Two
1."Automaton" - 4:04
2."Is There A Difference?" - 3:33
3."Elegy" - 4:20
4."Specialty" - 3:58
5."Why Look For The Key" - 3.23
6."Hunger For The Flesh" - 3:59
From Wikipedia:
Howard Jones (born John Howard Jones, 23 February 1955, Southampton, Hampshire, England) is a British musician, singer and songwriter. According to the Guinness Book of British Hit Singles & Albums, "Jones is an accomplished singer-songwriter who was a regular chart visitor in the mid-1980s with his brand of synthpop. Jones, who was equally popular in the U.S., appeared at Live Aid". Allmusic journalist, Stephen Thomas Erlewine adds, "Jones was one of the defining figures of mid-1980s synthpop. His music merged the technology intensive sound of New Wave with the cheery optimism of hippies and late 1960s pop. Jones racked up a string of hits in the mid and late 1980s, before he retreated into being a cult figure in the 1990s".
For those of you into synths, here is a YouTube video of Howard reviewing the Jupiter 80 in his music room.
I look forward to hearing your opinions.
Lawrence