Search - Ultravox :: Vienna

Their Best, a defining work & maturity from their early era

Btbp | Tokyo / New York / Singapore | 01/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Purists may disagree, especially if they started out with the Foxx Ultravox, which I also like but less so.Vienna convinced this Hard & Prog Rock listener to appreciate New Wave, due to its stylistic depth and non-mainstream pop approach. Conny Plank has a golden touch on whatever he produces, and this is no exception. With Conny's guidance, they break from their punk-ish, rawer side to a more refined and modern sound. It is probably one of the most underrated New Wave albums that helped defined the genre.In this album Ultravox are fringe-pop while remaining artistically unique. It lacks (with the exception of the title track) their trademark overly melodramatic tendencies, which came out more on later albums. I like Ultravox in spite of what some fans appreciate �Ethat syrupy, over-dramatic quality, and what I think prevented them from becoming bigger than they were, which was a shame because I felt they were underrated and under-played on the radio.The original album's song order gave it a certain character, an almost Prog-rock concept feel to it. The album is supposed to lead with the easily-accessible "Sleepwalk", which opens perfectly with that anticipatory drum hit and synth phasing), an almost Prog-rock concept feel to it, with the two hits, "Sleepwalk" and "All Stood Still" at the start and end of the album.Leading off with "Astradyne" is strange. A great instrumental break from the rest of an otherwise vocal-driven album, it worked better in the original set at track 5, and led nicely into Mr. X. If they only did more instrumentals. Astradyne showcases a side of Ultravox which we never got enough of."

Great transitional album for Ultravox

Mark A. Carter | New York | 12/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So this was the transitional album for Ultravox. 1980 & John Foxx had gone on to pursue his solo career giving over the position to Midge Ure (previously of the Rich Kids). Thankfully the new line-up didn't rest on the laurels of the old lead singer & his very personal & esoteric lyrics. When I saw Ultravox in Concert back 1980 they were canny enough to split their set pretty much in 1/2. Half of the old 70's fave's and then introduced the new stuff off this album. Vienna being more symphonic and richer sounding than the simpler robotic synth lines and beats of their previous effort 'Systems of Romance' this album took a huge leap forward for the group. Neither distancing themselves from their original sound, the Violins of Billy Currie were still up front and centre in many of the arrangements and given free reign on tracks like Vienna the highly emotive title track. Elsewhere you have the Instrumental lead in 'Astradyne' which shows how to make the most of a Synthesizer back in the 80's, when knob twiddling was how you played Synths rather than too much key work. However it works very well here while the group intelligently veers back to solid song-structure & the great brave vocals of Midge Ure pushing the songs like 'Passing Stranger's' & 'Sleepwalk' along wonderfully. I say brave because this was an obvious transiton for the group from Underdog Synth Punkers to the New Age scene that was fast hitting the U.K. and they straddled it with confidence and panache. Highly emotional songs like 'Vienna' & 'New Europeans' sharing space with beat driven Electro ditties like 'All Stood Still' & 'Sleepwalk' which I believe was their 1st single off the album. The stark white cover with the group in rather awkward stances I think works quite well & even their Logo changed. Certainly one of the top 10 albums in the U.K. of 1980 it jump-started a highly prolific Ultravox for another good few years but they never again achieved the height of sophistication they achieved here. A must buy for any fan of old-school New Wave. Highly recommended."

The most PERFECT album ever recorded

Loretta | NJ USA | 11/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been an Ultravox fan since 1979, and while I liked the incarnation with John Foxx, Midge Ure's amazing voice made the band even better. I've listened to this album over and over. I know every note of it. The track listing on this release is different than what I'm used to. In addition to the four songs added on to the end, it seems that Sleepwalk and Astradyne have switched places in the track order. Maybe this is the track listing from the original UK version and I have the US version? I agree with someone else who said that Astradyne doesn't belong at the begining of the CD. It is, however, one of my favorite songs.At any rate, you can't go wrong with this CD, especially if you love synth music. However, this is more than synth music...and that's what makes it so special. The instruments used include violin, viola, drums, piano and bass. I've always described Ultravox's music as 'Modern Classical.' The songs flow perfectly from one to the next and listening to this CD is pure bliss."