I have not determined what my favorite Numan album is, but this may be it. The instrumentation is rich, the accompaniment of female voices lovely, and the variety nearly endless.

The opener, "My Breathing," is superb, featuring an exotic Middle-Eastern tonality. "Unknown and Hostile" features lots of sax and guitars, as well as a pounding rhythm.

"The Sleeproom" represents another change of rhythm, a jerky beat with massed, synthesized chords.

"New Thing from London Town" is classic pop Numan, very good for dancing, catchy tune. "I Can't Stop" is even more of a kick, with a extremely good beat, and a rousing chorus of female voices. "Strange Charm" continues to build the energy and adds a spaced-out sound with rapid-fire lyrics.

"The Need" is another kicker, but not quite up to the level of "Strange Charm," which is fine, because that song ends up being the climax of the record. Still, there is a rousing chorus and brass band sound. "This is Love" brings the original album to a close with a great Numan ballad, atmospheric and heart-felt with moody sax.

The bonus tracks vary on different versions of this album, but I have the import, so I need to restrict my comments to those. Apparently "Survival," a bluesy number with a smashing monster beat reminiscent of "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin, is on the two versions sold by Amazon.com. It's not to be missed. "Faces" features more heavy beats with electric organ and lots of echoing samples. "Time to Die" is another beautiful ballad, the lyrics of which refer to Roy Battie's final soliloquy in Blade Runner ("and I have seen things that you wouldn't believe"). "Mist as Ax" is a slight, gentle piece that serves well as a quiet coda for this great disc.

Gary Numan conquers new territory on this album, recorded in just six days with some of the most respected talents in traditional and contemporary blue grass. A stark a capella duet with Ralph Stanley is not to be missed. Numan's lyrics remain rooted in sci-fi futurism and post-modern alienation. Their combination with "the high lonesome sound" is piquant, to say the least.

I bet more than a few Numan fans back in 1986 felt a bad trick was played on them when they plopped Strange Charm on their turntables for the first time. "My Breathing" is amazing! On my top 10 all-time Numan list. It quietly builds up and then kicks in with this powerful orchestra sound (well keyboard-generated orchestra sound) and quiet, actually very nice, female vox. Unbelievable song! Words cannot do justice. After The Fury, which disappointed many fans, this song must have sounded like a breath of fresh air (no pun intended). Numan is back on track! Then the saxophone blares and the female singers wail on the second track "Unknown and Hostile" and reality sets in. More Janet Jacksonesque music from the New Wave/synthesizer god. "I Can't Stop" and "The Need" continues the annoying material found on The Fury ("Creatures," "This Disease"). The latter is my vote for all-time worst Numan track. Like on The Fury, though, there are some decent tracks on here, besides the excellent opener, that keeps Strange Charm from being a bust. The title track rocks! It reminds me of "The Pleasure Skin" off The Fury. "The Sleeproom" and "This is Love" are two beautiful ballads. I know a lot of fans hate Numan's very commercial work with Bill Sharpe, but I think "New Thing from London Town" is rather catchy. Cleopatra's issue even gives you a 7:57 version of the infamous single with different lyrics. Of the extra tracks, the haunting ballad "Time to Die" is the best. It reminds me a little of "I Still Remember" off The Fury. According to the liner notes, it was inspired by the movie "Blade Runner" (a clip from which begins "Call Out the Dogs"). "Faces" and "Survival" are two odd instrumentals. Strange Charm is one of my least played Numan CDs but "My Breathing" alone makes it worth the price. This issue has black & white photos of Numan from the period (one color photo with Sharpe) and lyrics.