The Pleasures of Electricity
Encyclopedia
The Pleasures of Electricity is an album by John Foxx
and Louis Gordon
, released in 2001. It was the duo's second studio album, and Foxx's third after his return to the music scene in 1997.
The album continues along the lines of modern electronics flavoured with early-80s touches, that was set out by the duo's 1997 album Shifting City
. However, The Pleasures of Electricity is more polished and minimalist than any of Foxx's previous albums (solo or in a group), to the extent that the album sounds almost sterile in places. The lyrics recall themes similar to those in Foxx's classic album Metamatic
, dealing with traveling and urban life, including almost bizarre lyrics comparing driving in a car to mathematics in "Automobile" (all this delivered in Foxx's most deadpan voice). "Invisible Women" is a track Foxx originally recorded with Nation 12 over a decade earlier (the version here includes a synth riff recycled from Foxx's single "Underpass" that wasn't included in the Nation 12 version), while "Cities of Light 5" is a further development of "Cities of Light 1" that was also recorded with Nation 12.
The album’s original press release states: “Taking a cue from Kraftwerk, one of Foxx’s most obvious stylistic touchstones, “Pleasures…” is a streamlined monorail of lock-step computer-generated beats and wiry synthesizer melodies with an equal emphasis on dark, atmospherics and energised, danceable rhythms.”
The artwork of the album was designed by Foxx himself, based on his own photography. The main cover depicts a man in a grey suit standing next to a door, his face completely whited out by a bright light that seems to originate from inside him. This, together with the album name, recalled René Magritte
's painting Le Principe Du Plaisir, and through it Gary Numan
's synthpop
classic The Pleasure Principle
, the artwork and title of which were inspired by the said painting (sonically The Pleasures of Electricity also resembles The Pleasure Principle and vice versa). In the sleeve notes for the live album The Golden Section Tour + The Omnidelic Exotour Foxx writes of buying a grey suit around 1978 and photographing his friends wearing it, with the face of the person never showing in the pictures. Whether or not the photographs used on The Pleasures of Electricity are from this time is unknown, but based on the description the artwork for this album is similar to Foxx's 1978 photography.
No singles were released from the album, however "Nightlife" was included on the Modern Art compilation released some three months before The Pleasures of Electricity.
A 2 CD special edition is set for release in October 2009. Disc One of this re-issue features a version of the album, newly remixed in 2009 by John Foxx while disc Two features the original mix of the album plus two previously unreleased bonus tracks. (pre-order info).
John Foxx
John Foxx is an English singer, artist, photographer and teacher. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox before being replaced by Midge Ure, when he left to embark on a solo career in 1979...
and Louis Gordon
Louis Gordon
Louis Gordon is an English musician notable for his collaboration with John Foxx. He has worked with Foxx on a number of albums since 1995. His solo work has also been released on the Toffeetones record label.-Biography:...
, released in 2001. It was the duo's second studio album, and Foxx's third after his return to the music scene in 1997.
The album continues along the lines of modern electronics flavoured with early-80s touches, that was set out by the duo's 1997 album Shifting City
Shifting City
Shifting City is an album by John Foxx and Louis Gordon, released in 1997 . Released simultaneously with Foxx's ambient album Cathedral Oceans, Shifting City was Foxx's first album release since In Mysterious Ways .Stylistically Shifting City marked a return to the electronic sound of Foxx's 1980...
. However, The Pleasures of Electricity is more polished and minimalist than any of Foxx's previous albums (solo or in a group), to the extent that the album sounds almost sterile in places. The lyrics recall themes similar to those in Foxx's classic album Metamatic
Metamatic
Metamatic is an album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo album following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the textured mix of synthesizers and conventional instruments on Systems of Romance, his last album with the band, Metamatics hard-edged...
, dealing with traveling and urban life, including almost bizarre lyrics comparing driving in a car to mathematics in "Automobile" (all this delivered in Foxx's most deadpan voice). "Invisible Women" is a track Foxx originally recorded with Nation 12 over a decade earlier (the version here includes a synth riff recycled from Foxx's single "Underpass" that wasn't included in the Nation 12 version), while "Cities of Light 5" is a further development of "Cities of Light 1" that was also recorded with Nation 12.
The album’s original press release states: “Taking a cue from Kraftwerk, one of Foxx’s most obvious stylistic touchstones, “Pleasures…” is a streamlined monorail of lock-step computer-generated beats and wiry synthesizer melodies with an equal emphasis on dark, atmospherics and energised, danceable rhythms.”
The artwork of the album was designed by Foxx himself, based on his own photography. The main cover depicts a man in a grey suit standing next to a door, his face completely whited out by a bright light that seems to originate from inside him. This, together with the album name, recalled René Magritte
René Magritte
René François Ghislain Magritte[p] was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images...
's painting Le Principe Du Plaisir, and through it Gary Numan
Gary Numan
Gary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
's synthpop
Synthpop
Synthpop is a genre of popular music that first became prominent in the 1980s, in which the synthesizer is the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic art rock, disco and particularly the "Kraut rock" of...
classic The Pleasure Principle
The Pleasure Principle (Gary Numan album)
The Pleasure Principle is the third studio album, and debut album under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1979...
, the artwork and title of which were inspired by the said painting (sonically The Pleasures of Electricity also resembles The Pleasure Principle and vice versa). In the sleeve notes for the live album The Golden Section Tour + The Omnidelic Exotour Foxx writes of buying a grey suit around 1978 and photographing his friends wearing it, with the face of the person never showing in the pictures. Whether or not the photographs used on The Pleasures of Electricity are from this time is unknown, but based on the description the artwork for this album is similar to Foxx's 1978 photography.
No singles were released from the album, however "Nightlife" was included on the Modern Art compilation released some three months before The Pleasures of Electricity.
A 2 CD special edition is set for release in October 2009. Disc One of this re-issue features a version of the album, newly remixed in 2009 by John Foxx while disc Two features the original mix of the album plus two previously unreleased bonus tracks. (pre-order info).
2001 original release
- "A Funny Thing" — 4:18
- "Nightlife" — 5:54
- "Camera" — 7:47
- "Invisible Women" — 5:55
- "Cities of Light 5' — 5:26
- "Uptown / Downtown" — 6:34
- "When It Rains" — 4:24
- "Automobile" — 5:56
- "The Falling Room" — 4:52
- "Travel" — 6:57
- "Quiet City" — 5:04
- All tracks written by John Foxx and Louis Gordon.
- On Nation 12's album Electrofear, "Invisible Women" is credited to John Foxx, Shem McAuley, Kurt Rodgers and Simon Rodgers.
2009 Special edition
- A Funny Thing
- Nightlife (Alternative Mix)
- Camera
- Invisible Women (Alternative Mix)
- Cities Of Light (Alternative Mix)
- Uptown – Downtown
- When It Rains
- Automobile (Alternative Mix)
- The Falling Room
- Travel
- Quiet City
- A Funny Thing (Original Mix)
- Nightlife (Original Mix)
- Camera (Original Mix)
- Invisible Women (Original Mix)
- Cities Of Light (Original Mix)
- Uptown – Downtown (Original Mix)
- When It Rains (Original Mix)
- Automobile (Original Mix)
- The Falling Room (Original Mix)
- Travel (Original Mix)
- Quiet City (Original Mix)
- Twilight Room (previously unreleased)
- Screenplay (previously unreleased)