If you go into a music store and look under 'Gary Numan', you're likely to find 2 albums: 'The Pleasure Principle' and 'Replica's' as the only 2 options. I don't know why every music store I've ever visited only carries those 2 albums, but if you are faced in that dilemma, and feel the need to buy one of those two albums, may I suggest 'Replica's' it's electro/post-punk sounds are just as interesting today as they were in '78. Concerning one of Gary Numan's best albums of all times though, I would have to suggest to you 'Telekon'! My goodness, with the newly remastered version, so much great material is included along side the already interesting album! Several of the songs on this album were not included on the original vinyl album from '80. Gary Numan's cover of 'Trois Gymnopedies' is stunning! Imagine a very sweet synthized version of the original version to get some idea of how it sounds. The piano version of "Down In The Park" brings a new meaning to the song, suddenly "rape machines" and "Zom'Zom's" are not on my mind... The honesty of "Please Push No More", the themes of sensitivity in "We Are Glass"; I feel this is probably one of my favorite Gary Numan album of his 28-year carrier! Actually many of the 'New Romantic' artist of the early 80's found inspiration from this album. It's a shame that David Sylvian (of 'Japan') and Gary Numan never created a song together as they had originally planed shortly after the release of this album. If you admire that smooth 'New Romantic' sound of the group 'Japan' (their last 3 albums), might I suggest the album "Dance" by Gary Numan. Good luck in discovering such an interesting artist as Mr. Numan("Webb")! He is no doubt one of the most versatile artists of the last several decades and is not afraid to try something new with each album he releases! 5 Stars!

I had the record as a kid and lost track of it. Stumbled across the CD a while back and grabbed it up in a fit of nostalgia and plunked down my money. On the way home, I decided that I'd probably hate it now. All those downbeat themes, his droning voice!

What a delight!! You just don't hear keyboards like this anymore, and I'm not sure we ever really did, really. Numan was not really making commercial music, like other keyboard heavy groups of roughly his time (Flock of Seagulls, Human League). He was really his own man.

I had forgotten that many of the songs are actually pretty uptempo, even if the lyrical themes are a bit threatening (don't expect to get in a good mood listening to this stuff). I DIE, YOU DIE is a fast-paced blast! JOY CIRCUIT is high spirited. Other songs, very slow and quiet, have a beautiful, delicate, fragile quality, like PLEASE PUSH NO MORE or I DREAM OF WIRES. The keyboards sound like smoke or fog would sound. Just barely there, like Numan's voice, and evoke a kind of sadness. You empathize with the singer, who seems isolated in a sterile world of computer generated music.

I don't know who I'd recommend this album to. It's not like anything else out there. If you want something that's not like anything else out there, give it a try. You'll discover a nearly forgotten work from an artist who never got his full due.

There is so much delightful Gary Numan music, but Telekon, as other reviewers have noted, is special. It really is an effective concept album, set sometime in the future. "And what if God's dead? We must have done something wrong." The opening song, "This Wreckage I call me" sets the tone. A super synthesized, plodding rhythm, and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. This is what makes Telekon so enjoyable. The music is precise and competent, the lyrics are a fantasy trip to a cold future, where love loses its allure, leaving only alienation and nostalgia. "The Aircrash Bureau" develops a more atmospheric aesthetic, which later will dominate the spectacular "Dance."

"Telekon," the title track, has a good danceble rhythm, a monotone melodic line that evokes robotic images. The following cut, "Remind me to smile" is a high point on this excellent album. The funky rhythms are foot-tapping and the techno orchestration grand. "Sleep by windows" is atmospheric. Numan introduces the lyrics by talking, and then soars into a lovely melody, "I don't love you; do you dream?" "We are glass" is a rocker that hearkens back to Numan's punk days. Well executed and a fairly driving.

"I'm an agent" originally began side two of the LP, and it's another winner. "You can be replaced, you know." "I dream of wires" is the most developed of Numan's futuristic real, quite amusing, and with an excellent beat, dazzling electronic embellishment. "Remember I was vapour" is yet another highlight. "Please push no more" features piano, an introspective work that leads nicely into the rocking finale, "The Joy Circuit."

The bonus tracks, as might be expected, are a mixed bag, but always fascinating and welcome. "I die, you die" is a good rocker." "A Game Called Echo" is very much in line with the sonic world created by Telekon. It fits in very well. "Photograph" is an innocuous piece for piano with a bit of synthesized accompaniment. The piano version of "Down in the Park" reveals what a lovely tune it is. Gary's cover of one of the Gymnopedies is not quite up to the original.

All in all, a homerun from Gary Numan, one of lasting impact.