in praise of ... the buggles, adventures in modern recording

"owner of a lonely heart" is "not ending well"?!?

that's the sad part, ya know?

Vincent Gallo to thread!

i love the sleeve. sorta sums up what Horn might've been feeling at this point: yeggles over, partnership with G.Downes over, etc.

I presume you're referring to this:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/fridayreview/story/0,,1332314,00.html ?

October 14, 2004 - Members of Yes are scheduled to appear at Produced by Trevor Horn, a Concert for the Prince's Trust, a tribute show which will feature a number of bands produced over the years by the one-time Yes member and producer.

Former Yes member Trevor Rabin will join Alan, Chris, and Steve, performing an electric version of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" with an orchestra handling the keyboard parts.

Other acts slated to appear include ABC, Art of Noise, Belle & Sebastian, Buggles, Lisa Stansfield, Pet Shop Boys, Propaganda, and Seal.

The show is scheduled for November 11, 2004. Tickets can be purchased online at whatsonwembley.com or at the numbers below.

I mean, he only produced one single. But I don't care. Propaganda! Propaganda's back! I wonder if Susanne and Claudia will both be singing with them...?

propaganda propaganda propaganda!

Man, "Lenny" is so great. "BUT-WE-WERE-WALKING-ON-GLASS!"

The reissue comes out tomorrow!

Adventures In Modern Recording, the deluxe reboot. The complete album remastered, plus all the B-sides and remixes of the era, and seven previously-unreleased demos. Hand-picked by Trevor Horn, the demos include Videotheque (which Trevor would later produce for Dollar) and We Can Fly From Here, parts 1 and 2 (which Buggles originally wrote for Yes, and was performed on their legendary Drama tour). Expanded artwork includes new liner notes and interviews, rare photos and single sleeves.

They're back!

http://www.trevorhorn.com/news/

i'm still quite fond of this record ...

I've changed my listening habits since 2004. I listen to "Adventures..." way more than "Age Of Plastic" nowadays but still love them both. Gotta get a hold of that reissue mentioned upthread!

Also, here's a cool Quietus review from April:

http://thequietus.com/articles/04035-the-buggles-adventures-in-modern-recording-album-reissue-review

WAITING FOR THE RAINBOW WARRIOR

time is all you're measuring

T. Horn really sounds like Jon Anderson on this album.

Man, I did not hear that until you noted it & now it's all I can hear.

:D

"Nylon Blue" is the best B-side, it's probably my favorite Buggles song.

Mine is either "Elstree" or "I Am a Camera".

Cam-mah-rah-cam-mah-rah.

After 30 years, their first live show ever

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqHetm6ZVd4

(first full live show that is)

I still like "The Plastic Age" better but this is also an amazing record. They are largely just remembered for "Video Killed The Radio Star", which was surely a great pop song in its own right. But most people aren't aware that the guys behind "Video Killed The Radio Star" actually made two fantastic albums (three, if you count "Drama").

Got a copy of Geoff Downes' '87 solo album The Light Program recently, which I am enjoying. Double album with five long instrumental synth pieces.

Hmmm... OK. Sounds entirely different from Asia then, wasn't that keen on them.

Todd Rundgren did of course do magic for the likes of ABC and Dollar, and actually even for Seal years later.

I Am A Camera >>>> Into The Lens

I am sitting on a park bench near the Brooklyn Bridge listening to the remaster of this album. 4 am is perfect right now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvz6cUWsw9w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcjHi6-bpdQ&feature=related

I prefer "Into The Lens". That is my favourite track on "Drama", which makes it hard for me to quite accept a different version later on.

Just pulled this down (not the reissue, however). I can't quite determine A) what I think of this or B) what kind of music it is. It's progressive, I guess. But it's also kind of more melodic than most prog...but not exactly the Brill Building in terms of tunes. Odd record.

Prog new wave, I like that description. I still love both albums no matter how of their time they sound. "Video Killed The Radio Star" will never be played out for me.

"Lemmy" has the most inspiring and moving little medley at the end.

You mean "Lenny". For a minute there I thought, "Wait, the Buggles wrote a tribute to Lemmy from Motorhead?!"

given this thread revival, this dropped in my inbox a couple of days ago :

Trevor's new project - Producers - have finally finished their début album, and it's set for release in March 2012. (They were The Producers, then US, now they're Producers. And this time the release date is final!)

At the same time, Trevor has reformed The Buggles who are playing a surprise gig this coming TUESDAY 25TH OCTOBER at the British Music Experience at The O2.

anyone go along ?

I dunno, as cool as Adventures... is, it has less of that lovely Pop sheen that's all over Age Of Plastic . Plus, its a darker, slower record than Plastic , and the songs are less interesting. I think Drama carries more of the Buggles spirit than Adventures does. Still, a fine record.
― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Monday, October 25, 2004 10:48 AM (eighteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink

Whatta dope.

It's a cool record. Love the maximalist hugeness of the sound, applied to these kind of esoteric or dorky little song concepts. Didn't realize until looking it up today that it's very close to a Trevor Horn solo project, as Downes left to co-found Asia just as sessions began.

Gave it a fresh listen and it sounded even better than I remembered! "Huge" is the word I keep coming back to. Maybe some of the songs aren't quite as pop-ready as on the debut, but it's still a good listen. "Lenny" remains the absolute standout for me.