GARY NUMAN HYBRID DOUBLE ALBUM ARTFUL RELEASE: MARCH 10, 2003 REVIEW: APRIL 25, 2003

I for one really like the direction Gary Numan has taken lately. The album “Pure” is still a favourite of mine. This new album - “Hybrid” - is a kind of continuation of that style, but with mostly old tracks redone by such luminaries as Flood, Alan Moulder, Sulpher and Andy Gray. The first two tracks make me breathless, with the raw power of “Hybrid” and the extremely intense “Dark” setting the tone for things to come.
I find myself to be in a quite gloomy mood while listening, and that’s because my mind is just taking in the feel of Gary’s shrill voice and the sombre tones flowing out of my speakers. This music really has a big effect on me, which is as great a compliment I can give.
The remakes are mostly very skillfully done, and although they essentially are very homogenous (fascinating in itself since so many people have worked on them) it never goes stale. All remixes show great respect for the original tracks, which I like. In all honesty, some of the songs are similar, but Gary’s sense for melody is sharp as a… hmm, really sharp thing. This is a great retrospective of Gary’s 25-year career, and you’d do well in obtaining a copy.

JOHAN CARLSSON