Gary Numan - 'Exposure' (Jagged Halo)
3/5
By: Toby L
The sticker on this CD-case informs us of the fact that Sugababes, Nine Inch Nails, Basement Jaxx, Marilyn Manson, DJ Hell, Foo Fighters, Fear Factory and Armand Van Helden have recently covered material by the wacko himself, Numan. Therefore, to say that some of his material hasn't stood the test of time could be, clearly, an erroneous statement. Yet, despite this, does it really mean that we have to receive a double-CD retrospective of the guy's 'Best' efforts?
'Exposure' does have its moments, though - the trance-rock of 'Pure' is chillingly intriguing, if not accessible enough to prove truly hip-grinding, whilst the helplessly synth-based 'Down In The Park' certainly may raise the odd eyebrow here and there. Elsewhere, the hits still shine their original late-70s appeal - namely the recently-resurrected 'Are 'Friends' Electric' (no doubt the number that prompted a re-release of his past and latest endeavours in the first place), as well as the former advert-clinger 'Cars', which is as sexily odd as ever.
You may be thinking, 'Wait, this is only stating the obvious tracks,' but - really - this is because they stand out the most, the others merely working upon the same tested fabric as the popular tunes: i.e. big, bashing drums, a groovy bass-line - either keyboard-based or on such a four-string guitar - and Gary's occasionally irritating vocal-howls... Certainly, confining the release to purely his 'best' songs, and not others that don't match up alongside such a quality, would have been a more favourable move - and that's the main problem with this record: there's just too much 'Exposure' of his musical-output to date.
At times great, at times slightly mundane, there's a nagging feeling that this album is really best suited just for the fans.
Artists in this article: Gary Numan
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