ultravox reformation

w/Midge on vocals:

http://www.ultravox.org.uk/index.shtml

Lower expectations from this than for, say, the OMD reformation tour, but maybe it'll be good? They were always excellent live, even when the later albums got a bit iffy.

John Foxx 4eva

Oh 4eva

Though I admit ever since John D. talked about "The Voice" as a deft, chilling portrait of fascism I've appreciated the Midge era more.

[insert inevitable "this means nothing to me" zing here]

Well, that was great. I mean seriously great. I figured they probably wouldn't suck, but was unprepared for a/just how good they were and b/how so many of the tunes, even the later ones have held up. Would have liked to have heard them play "New Europeans" and "Private Lives", but that's about all I can think of to criticise. Go see Ultravox, dummies!

I'm delighted to hear about this. Can't wait to tell my friend who is a huge fan, he will be quite pleased.

Listening to the new live disc from the reunion tour and it's quite great.

Wanted to see them but it beggars belief that they're playing any number of dubious towns in Germany and even Luxembourg ffs but are not coming to Vienna, the city that gave them their most famous song.

It means nothing to Midge.

They were huge in Germany, probably not the same in Austria.

Yeah but there are any number of mid-size venues here that would fit their audience nicely.

Listening to the new live disc from the reunion tour and it's quite great.

Hmm. Must investigate.

Press release issued this morning...

U L T R A V O X
‘BRILLIANT’
the brand new studio album from
Midge Ure / Billy Currie / Chris Cross / Warren Cann

Release: May 28th on EMI Records

EMI are proud to announce the return of Ultravox with their first studio album in 28 years. Following on from the sold-out Return To Eden reformation shows in 2009, the classic Ultravox line-up has recorded a 12-track collection of brand new songs which will be released on May 28th ahead of a full UK tour in September and October.

Dramatic, passionate and truly epic in scale and sound, ‘Brilliant’ is not only a prescient reminder of how great this reborn band are, but an exciting and vital addition to an extraordinary catalogue of music which today sounds more current and influential than ever.

Emerging from the new wave and electro scenes of the late 70’s, Ultravox fashioned a form of electronic rock music that was uniquely powerful and delivered massive hits through the 1980’s such as ‘Hymn’, ‘Dancing With Tears In My Eyes’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Reap The Wild Wind’, ‘Love’s Great Adventure’, ‘We Came To Dance’ and of course the timeless and atmospheric ‘Vienna’.

‘Brilliant’ sees Ultravox expanding their classic sonic template and reminding us of their strength as songwriters of the highest calibre. Full details of the album will be revealed soon along with the thirteen-date tour they will be embarking on later this year.

The tracklisting for ‘Brilliant’ is as follows:

Live Again
Flow
Brilliant
The Change
Rise
Remembering
Hello
This One
Fall
Let It Lie
Satellite
Contact

The new single "Brilliant" is streaming here: http://soundcloud.com/slicingupeyeballs/ultravox-brilliant-bbc-radio-2

Sounds remarkably like something from Lament. Cautiously looking forward to the new album

Yeah, I heard it a couple of days ago. It does have quite a few trademarks of Ultravox at a certain period of time, like the synth bass reminds me of portions of Rage In Eden and the opening piano line is definitely a kind of trademark Billy Currie thing. The two things that I wasn't too convinced about was the chorus (the verses seem like they're building up to something much more than what actually surfaces), and surprisingly Midge Ure's vocal itself. Based on this, it doesn't seem like his vocals are capable of SOARING like they used to. I'll still be checking out the rest of the album, though!