Gary Numan - Dance (1981)

Previously on OPIUM HUM:
Gary Numan - Living Ornaments '79 and '80 (1981)
Gary Numan - Warriors (1983) + Strange Charm (1986)
Gary Numan - Exile Extended (1998)

Numan's most underrated album -- I've underrated it myself, in fact -- Dance is way overdue for a reappraisal. Contrary to what the name implies, the first side of Dance completely removes pop from the equation, leaving behind a series of abstract, protracted slow-burners with minimal drum patterns, darkly lush synth, and slightly more human-sounding vocals from a newly emotionally expressive Numan. The second half of the record sees a partial return to Numan's inimitable take on pop, while introducing a more fleshed-out, still hella synth-y sound that he'd further explore on later records.

In working on this writeup, I found out that Beggar's Banquet is putting out a rad-looking double LP reissue of Dance on the 18th of this month, so apparently they also think that now's a good time to give it a re-listen. There are a bunch of great b-sides -- his b-sides are almost always strong -- and the previously unreleased full version of the album-closing, "Metal"-referencing "Moral", so don't cheat yourself, treat yourself: buy that.

Track listing:
1. Slowcar to China
2. Night Talk
3. A Subway Called "You"
4. Cry the Clock Said
5. She's Got Claws
6. Crash
7. Boys Like Me
8. Stories
9. My Brother's Time
10. You Are, You Are
11. Moral

I'll forget who you are
I'll forget one of these days

You should also listen to:

Flowers -
Icehouse (1980)

Telex -
Neurovision (1980)