Art of Noise

The Art Of Noise's debut LP from 1984 is a landmark album that is still a remarkable listen. Not a great introduction if you just want the radio hits, this a cohesive, occasionally fragmented -- post-modern classic. Echoes of ambient and breakbeat are all over this album from "Moments In Love" to the amazing, "Close (To The Edit)"

There's no denying that this concatenation of musical-instrument imitations and collapsing new sound effects generates considerable episodic interest and the occasional groove. But only "Close (To the Edit)" sustains much jam, and "Beat Box" goes on so long it ends up insulting the memory of "Rapture" and Duck Rock both. What some people won't dance to nowadays. (Grade - B)