Outland (Gary Numan album)
Encyclopedia
Outland is the 13th studio album, and tenth under his own name, by electronic music
pioneer Gary Numan
, released in 1991. It was Numan's second and last studio album to be released by IRS Records, reaching #39 on the UK charts. The songs "Heart" and "My World Storm" were released as singles; "Heart" charted at #43, while "My World Storm" eventually only became a US only Promo single, a planned UK release was shelved due to the inner turmoil at the label around the release of the album. The latter did, however, reach #46 on the US dance
chart, Numan's first success in that country since the debut single with RADIO HEART in 1987, although the success was short-lived.
. The electro-jazz stylings of Outland are reminiscent of Numan's 1989 collaboration album with Bill Sharpe, Automatic
, although its dystopian lyrics are more typical of Numan's solo work. Outland could almost be described as a concept album
, as its songs share common themes and (in the case of the tracks "Confession" and "From Russia Infected") common musical and lyrical motifs. Indeed, Outland features more overt references to science-fiction than any other album Numan has released. The album features many vocal samples from notable sci-fi/action movies of the 1980s, including Blade Runner
, The Terminator
, Aliens
and Predator
(the title of Outland itself may be a reference to the 1981 science fiction film
of the same name). The instrumental interludes on Outland add to the album's cinematic atmosphere. Of the album, Numan recalled:
Numan's "Outland Tour" was originally scheduled for September 1990, but a lightning storm caused damage to Numan's recording studio, delaying the album and postponing the 14-date tour until March 1991. Due to the delay, the planned WORLD tour and budget for the stage set didn't materialise from the label, with inner Turmoil and artists been dropped from the label by the time the UK tour commenced. In September-October 1991, Numan embarked on the 19-date "Emotion Tour" (the first show was performed in Belgium; the rest were in the UK). To date, no official live albums or videos have been released from Numan's 1991 tours.
There are rumored to be three versions of the album completed, as Numan struggled to have a musical relationship with IRS who were at this time constantly trying to influence their input into his musical direction. The original album was to feature a PRINCE cover "1999", which was a compromise with the label, this was eventually dropped for a new track, "Soul Protection".
Numan was disappointed by the lack of effort IRS put into promoting Outland. After the album's commercial failure Numan was dropped by the label and shortly after went back to his own label Numa Records (through which Numan had released three studio albums between 1984 and 1986). He quickly followed this up with a single Emotion and a tour followed then Numan released two more studio albums through Numa, which were Machine + Soul
in 1992 and Sacrifice
in 1994, before shutting down the label again (this time permanently).
All timings are approximate and will vary slightly with different equipment.
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
pioneer 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...
, released in 1991. It was Numan's second and last studio album to be released by IRS Records, reaching #39 on the UK charts. The songs "Heart" and "My World Storm" were released as singles; "Heart" charted at #43, while "My World Storm" eventually only became a US only Promo single, a planned UK release was shelved due to the inner turmoil at the label around the release of the album. The latter did, however, reach #46 on the US dance
Hot Dance Club Play
The Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart, Numan's first success in that country since the debut single with RADIO HEART in 1987, although the success was short-lived.
Overview
Musically, Outland continues the synth-pop/dance-funk style of Numan's previous albums, which would continue until the artist's 1994 industrial album SacrificeSacrifice (Gary Numan album)
Sacrifice is a 1994 album by Gary Numan. Its release followed a self-acknowledged career low point, Machine + Soul , and is often cited as marking the start of a critical and artistic rejuvenation for the one-time pop star...
. The electro-jazz stylings of Outland are reminiscent of Numan's 1989 collaboration album with Bill Sharpe, Automatic
Automatic (Gary Numan album)
Automatic is a 1989 album released by Sharpe + Numan . The album was an attempt to recapture their success of their collaboration single "Change Your Mind", which reached number 17 in the UK charts in 1985...
, although its dystopian lyrics are more typical of Numan's solo work. Outland could almost be described as a concept album
Concept album
In music, a concept album is an album that is "unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narrative, or lyrical." Commonly, concept albums tend to incorporate preconceived musical or lyrical ideas rather than being improvised or composed in the studio, with all songs contributing...
, as its songs share common themes and (in the case of the tracks "Confession" and "From Russia Infected") common musical and lyrical motifs. Indeed, Outland features more overt references to science-fiction than any other album Numan has released. The album features many vocal samples from notable sci-fi/action movies of the 1980s, including Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
, The Terminator
The Terminator
The Terminator is a 1984 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and William Wisher Jr., and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, and Linda Hamilton. The film was produced by Hemdale Film Corporation and distributed by Orion Pictures, and filmed in Los...
, Aliens
Aliens (film)
Aliens is a 1986 science fiction action film directed by James Cameron and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton...
and Predator
Predator (film)
Predator is a 1987 American science fiction action film directed by John McTiernan, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Jesse Ventura, and Kevin Peter Hall. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox....
(the title of Outland itself may be a reference to the 1981 science fiction film
Outland (film)
Outland is a 1981 British science fiction thriller film written and directed by Peter Hyams.Set on Jupiter's moon Io, it has been described as a space Western, and bears thematic resemblances to High Noon....
of the same name). The instrumental interludes on Outland add to the album's cinematic atmosphere. Of the album, Numan recalled:
Numan's "Outland Tour" was originally scheduled for September 1990, but a lightning storm caused damage to Numan's recording studio, delaying the album and postponing the 14-date tour until March 1991. Due to the delay, the planned WORLD tour and budget for the stage set didn't materialise from the label, with inner Turmoil and artists been dropped from the label by the time the UK tour commenced. In September-October 1991, Numan embarked on the 19-date "Emotion Tour" (the first show was performed in Belgium; the rest were in the UK). To date, no official live albums or videos have been released from Numan's 1991 tours.
There are rumored to be three versions of the album completed, as Numan struggled to have a musical relationship with IRS who were at this time constantly trying to influence their input into his musical direction. The original album was to feature a PRINCE cover "1999", which was a compromise with the label, this was eventually dropped for a new track, "Soul Protection".
Numan was disappointed by the lack of effort IRS put into promoting Outland. After the album's commercial failure Numan was dropped by the label and shortly after went back to his own label Numa Records (through which Numan had released three studio albums between 1984 and 1986). He quickly followed this up with a single Emotion and a tour followed then Numan released two more studio albums through Numa, which were Machine + Soul
Machine + Soul
Machine and Soul is the 14th studio album, and 11th under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1992. It is known for being a career low-point for Numan, released primarily in an attempt to pay off the artist's debts during the commercial nadir of his career...
in 1992 and Sacrifice
Sacrifice (Gary Numan album)
Sacrifice is a 1994 album by Gary Numan. Its release followed a self-acknowledged career low point, Machine + Soul , and is often cited as marking the start of a critical and artistic rejuvenation for the one-time pop star...
in 1994, before shutting down the label again (this time permanently).
Track listing
All tracks written by Gary Numan.All timings are approximate and will vary slightly with different equipment.
1991 IRS CD release (EIRSACD 1039)
- "(Interval 1)" – 1:13
- "Soul Protection" – 3:36
- "Confession" – 4:17
- "My World Storm" – 3:43
- "Dream Killer" – 4:22
- "Dark Sunday" – 4:02
- "Outland" – 4:05
- "Heart" – 4:06
- "(Interval 2)" – 0:19
- "From Russia Infected" – 4:30
- "(Interval 3)" – 0:39
- "Devotion" – 4:13
- "Whisper" – 4:20
1999 EMI reissue (7243 5 21405 2 7)
- "(Interval 1)" – 1:13
- "Soul Protection" – 3:36
- "Confession" – 4:17
- "My World Storm" – 3:43
- "Dream Killer" – 4:22
- "Dark Sunday" – 4:02
- "Outland" – 4:05
- "Heart" – 4:06
- "(Interval 2)" – 0:19
- "From Russia Infected" – 4:30
- "(Interval 3)" – 0:39
- "Devotion" – 4:13
- "Whisper" – 4:20
- "Shame" - 4:48
- "Icehouse" - 3:19
- "Tread Careful" - 4:14
- "My World Storm (US Promo Mix)" - 5:45
- "My World Storm (Alternative Mix)" - 3:41
Personnel
- Gary NumanGary NumanGary 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...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, drum programmingDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
, percussion programming, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
(track 5) - Keith Beauvais – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Mike Smith – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, keyboards, acoustic guitar (track 13), slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
(track 7), guitar (track 8), bass (track 8), bongosBongo drumBongo or bongos are a Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of single-headed, open-ended drums attached to each other. The drums are of different size: the larger drum is called in Spanish the hembra and the smaller the macho...
(track 8) - Dick MorrisseyDick MorrisseyRichard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
– saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
(track 5) - Tim Whitehead – saxophone (tracks 6 and 8)
- Russell Bell – guitar (track 7)
- Nick BeggsNick BeggsNick Beggs is a British musician, noted for playing the bass guitar and the Chapman Stick; he is a member of Kajagoogoo and formerly Iona and Ellis, Beggs, & Howard.-Personal life:...
– bass (track 8) - Paul Harvey – rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
(track 12), slide guitar (track 12) - Cathi Ogden – backing vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...