John Foxx compilations across the years Part 10

After no less than three compilation releases during 2016, there was a gap in any further mining of the vaults for stand-alone compilations until 2020, which is where we pick up the story, though it should be noted that 2018 saw the ‘Metamatic’ CD box set release that presented to the world for the first time many hitherto unreleased recordings from the John Foxx archives. This featured compilation from 2020 would in fact relate directly to 2018’s deluxe re-issue of ‘Metamatic’…

‘Concrete and Organised Noise’ UK LP (Metamatic Records, META64LP, 2020)

Release date: 24 January 2020.

This compilation, intended as some kind of ‘related works’ companion piece in the ‘Metamatic’ universe, was pressed up as a limited edition of 500 copies, on grey vinyl. It comes styled in a wonderful sleeve design by Jonathan Barnbrook, very much in keeping with the ‘Metamatic’ era house style, and focusing on a wonderful photo of John Foxx by Chris Gabrin, which again dates from the era and very much adapts Foxx himself and his ‘grey suit’ persona dead-centre into the narrative of the aesthetic.

The music contained in the album is a selection of tracks drawn from disc three of 2018’s 3 CD box set of ‘Metamatic’ (Metamatic META63BX, released 25th May, 2018). It is not a complete equivalent of that disc however, several tracks are missing. So, if you are seeking a complete record of the ‘Metamatic’ era archive, you’ll still need to seek that out.

So, much of the material presented here is instrumental, electronic pieces, but there are a few more ‘song’ based pieces that are found, principally earlier or alternative versions of some from either ‘Metamatic’ itself or the accompanying singles of the era.

Tracklisting:

Side One:

1. A Frozen Moment (1:28)
2. He’s A Liquid (Instrumental Dub) (2:06)
3. Mr. No (Alternative Version) (3:23)
4. The Uranium Committee (2:17)
5. A Man Alone (2:59)
6. Over Tokyo (2:10)
7. Terminal Zone (2:33)
8. Burning Car (Early Version) (2:45)

Side Two:

1. A Version Of You (1:30)
2. Glimmer (Alternative Version) (3:42)
3. Fragmentary City (2:31)
4. Metamorphosis (2:22)
5. Critical Mass (4:36)
6. Alamogordo Logic (1:04)
7. Miss Machinery (3:28)

The tracks from the 2018 deluxe CD set disc three which are not present on this vinyl release are;

• Urban Code
• Approaching The Monument
• Touch And Go (Early Version)
• No-One Driving (Early Version)
• Like A Miracle (Early Version)
• No-One Driving (Alternative Version)

Many of the instrumental tracks are incredibly minimal, in some cases such as ‘A Version of You’ it sounds almost like a test area for some of the sounds from ‘He’s A Liquid’. ‘Metamorphosis’ meanwhile plays around in the same sonic pool as something like ‘Film One’ with its Roland CR-78 rhythm machine and echo box styling. The ‘early version’ of ‘Burning Car’ is quite different indeed, not only musically but lyrically and with a much more strident vocal style, competing with the musical backing frequently. The final, incredibly stripped-down version of ‘Burning Car’ that became the familiar single release more than validates that it was well worth Foxx refining his homework before handing it in. Similarly, ‘Miss Machinery’ is an alternative world version of what would otherwise become ’20th Century’, complete with wholly different lyrics. Fascinating to gain insight into these earlier drafts of two Foxx classics.

In respect of the design aesthetics, I’ve already noted that it fits in well with the ‘Metamatic’ period styling, but I love some of the small details such as the record labels. These have retained the same design principle as the original ‘Metal Beat’ releases from 1980, but subtly updated them by way of the choice of black and white architectural photos used as background images on each side, while retaining the Eurostile Bold Extended lowercase typeface for the ‘Metal Beat’ logo.

The inner cover features two photos of Foxx by Chris Gabrin but placed in a subtly obscured manner that on casual glance you might assume they are the same. In all, it very much celebrates the ‘grey suit’ aesthetic that Foxx inhabited at the time.

Being pressed in a limited run of only 500, it’s not easy to come by now and it was issued with little publicity at the time, though some copies were put on sale from the official John Foxx store two years on from the original release as they were slightly damaged stock.

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What is / was unique to this compilation?

There are no exclusives on this release. All of the material had previously been released on the 2018 ‘Metamatic’ 3 x CD deluxe remastered CD box-set.

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Where can the exclusives be sourced now?

Not applicable in this case, look for the deluxe edition of ‘Metamatic’.

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Summary

It’s not an essential release to track down given that all of the tracks had already been made available on 2018’s deluxe edition of ‘Metamatic’, but if you are a fan of vinyl and the John Foxx music and aesthetic of 1980, then this was a welcome addition alongside 2014’s vinyl re-issue of ‘Metamatic’, and 2016’s ‘Burning Car’ compilation to form a third companion piece.