Gary Numan: Dead Son Rising (CD & DVD Deluxe)

THIS IS A USED ITEM!
MEDIA CONDITION IS MINT!
PACKAGING IS MINT!
THIS IS A COMPACT DISC!

Gary Numan’s Dead Son Rising occupies an interesting place in his catalogue. Released in 2011, it grew partly from unfinished ideas and material dating back to the Pure and Jagged periods, but the finished album became something far more substantial than a collection of leftovers. Working closely with producer Ade Fenton, Numan reshaped the material into a dark, atmospheric industrial record that stands comfortably alongside his strongest later work.

The brief “Resurrection” sets the mood before “Big Noise Transmission” arrives with the huge electronics, distorted guitars and oppressive atmosphere that had become central to Numan’s modern sound. The title track follows with an equally imposing combination of mechanical rhythms and haunting electronics.

One of the album’s strengths is its atmosphere. “When the Sky Bleeds, He Will Come” is wonderfully sinister, while “The Fall” transforms material originating during the Pure sessions into one of the record’s most immediate tracks. “We Are the Lost” similarly developed from an earlier piece called “Mercy” from the Jagged period.

There’s also a more vulnerable side to Dead Son Rising. “For the Rest of My Life” and its reprise provide contrast to the harsher industrial material, while “Not the Love We Dream Of” appears both in its full arrangement and as a stark piano version.

Numan and Fenton’s partnership is crucial to the record. The production is dense and cinematic without overwhelming the songwriting, combining electronics, guitars and unsettling ambient textures with Numan’s instantly recognisable voice.

The Deluxe Edition adds a DVD containing the promotional video for “The Fall”, behind-the-scenes material, interviews, a slideshow and gallery, making it a particularly desirable edition for collectors.