Gary Numan

Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind)
Mortal Records

The rebirth of Gary Numan over the past decade, and accolades from the likes of David Bowie, Prince, Kanye West and Lady Gaga, are testament to his significant and enduring influence on electronic and hip-hop music. Numan has returned to doing what he does best, and it shows on this new album.

The fine opening salvo of I Am Dust, Here in the Black and Everything Comes Down to This are gritty, dramatic and captivating. Beauty can be found in the cinematic strings of The Calling, while Love Hurt Bleed heads for the dance floor, Numan-style. His confidence is such that he even puts his trademark robotic voice to one side at times in favour of a more emotional and soulful vocal style. Lost finds him singing over a simple, delicate melody and is something of a revelation as machine becomes man.

Very much a part of the present, Numan also still manages to sound like the future, just as he did with Tubeway Army in 1979 on Are “Friends” Electric? Overall, Splinter encapsulates an impressive return to form. www.numan.co.uk.

Matt Swain