Album Reviews

Album Review: The Art Of Noise – Influence (Salvo)

By | Published on Tuesday 20 July 2010

Art Of Noise

Whilst previous Art Of Noise compilations have tended to be based on either their ZTT or post-ZTT output; this lovingly-curated selection spans their entire career, from the groundbreaking early work, via the collaborative hits with Duane Eddy and Tom Jones, through to 1999’s under-rated John Hurt-narrated comeback album ‘The Seduction of Claude Debussy’.

Compiling the “hits, singles, moments, treasures” on two CDs gives both the casual fan and the completist plenty to enjoy, with the lush sleevenotes being a particularly good example of the genre.

Although the celebrated triptych of ‘Moments In Love’, ‘Beatbox’ and ‘Close (To The Edit)’ still sound as innovative, quirky and compelling as they did 25 years ago, in truth, the likes of ‘Peter Gunn’ with Eddy and their cover of Prince’s ‘Kiss’ with Jones sit slightly uneasy with the rest of the fearlessly inventive output that either precedes or follows it.

As for the second CD, comprised of wholly unreleased material, it’s inevitably a mixed bag of interesting curios and unfinished diversions, but the likes of ‘Cassandra’ and ‘Beep Beep’ hold up well.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, this is a veritable treasure trove of enigma-wrapped riddles and deranged fun. MS

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