John Foxx
The Garden

After leaving Ultravox in the late '70s, John Foxx (real name Dennis Leigh), singer and keyboardist, went solo, creating good records in search of a balance between romanticism and pop (for this reason he is considered the leading exponent of the New Romantic).

In 1981, under the Virgin label, this beautiful album was released, characterized by beautiful atmospheres and arrangements attentive to the perfection of sounds. Less hypnotic than the first album, even though it remains quite intense when listened to in its entirety, this album delights those who listen to it. The album begins with the exceptional ""Europe After The Rain"" characterized by the obsessive rhythmic backdrop adorned by Foxx's splendid keyboard and delicate voice; the strong points of the piece, as for the entire album, are the choruses. It’s followed by ""Systems of Romance"" a manifesto of new romance, with filtered guitar intersections and Foxx's shouts leading to the splendid chorus followed by an equally beautiful keyboard interlude. ""When I Was A Man And You Were A Woman"" is a fine piece, more spoken than sung, always fascinating even if it doesn't match the previous ones. The album’s masterpiece follows, ""Dancing Like A Gun"", whose chorus can bring tears even to the most cold-hearted being in the universe, a song rich with keyboard and bass highlighted by the minimal guitar refinements, with ever-present choruses found throughout the album.

"Pater Noster" has the feel of a prayer to the god of new wave, with drums above all together with well-crafted choruses, the touch of the keyboard is also present here. The second side, even if inferior to the first, remains at very high levels. It opens with ""Night Suit"", where guitar and bass seem to speak their own spatial language with Foxx responding by crushing the entire world with this splendid sing. Here comes "You Were There", a love song where Foxx's voice is pursued by itself to recall the melody of ""Dancing Like A Gun"" and continue the dream (unfortunately it remains the worst piece of the album). ""Fusion/Fission"" is a playful song where singing and chorus exchange compliments, applauded by an ever-present bass. ""Walk Away"" marks a step forward towards the end of the album, memories of a depressed and snobbish France: a nice piece. The album closes with ""The Garden"", a long keyboard piece that creates a beautiful atmosphere, reminiscent of old psychedelia like Grateful Dead and emerging electronics: it perfectly closes the album.

An album to listen to carefully multiple times and to have in your collection!

Regards from psychobonco!