Modern Art – The Best of John Foxx

Last updated
Modern Art - the Best of John Foxx
Modern Art John Foxx.jpeg
Compilation album by
Released2001
Genre New wave, electronic, synthpop
Length73:04
Label Music Club
MCCD 454
Producer John Foxx,
John Foxx chronology
In Mysterious Ways
(1985)
Modern Art - the Best of John Foxx
(2001)
Cathedral Oceans
(1997)

Modern Art - the Best of John Foxx is the title of an 18-track compilation album by British recording artist John Foxx, issued in 2001.

Its issue coincided with the publication of a new album with Louis Gordon "The Pleasures of Electricity" and the re-issue of Foxx's first four solo albums on CD, Metamatic, The Garden, The Golden Section and In Mysterious Ways, all published by Edsel Records. Unlike the previous compilation, Assembly, "Modern Art" is a chronological and fairly straightforward compendium of Foxx's 1980s singles (with the exception of "20th Century" which was a B side) plus a selection of tracks covering musical output since returning to the music scene in 1997. Although the content of the album features output from all of Foxx's musical output to date, including the Cathedral Oceans ambient project, the cover art uses photographs of Foxx from his relatively short Metamatic era.

Track listing

  1. Underpass
  2. No-One Driving
  3. Burning Car
  4. 20th Century
  5. Miles Away
  6. Europe After The Rain
  7. Dancing Like A Gun
  8. Endlessly
  9. Your Dress
  10. Like A Miracle
  11. Stars On Fire
  12. Enter The Angel
  13. Sunset Rising
  14. The Noise
  15. Nightlife
  16. Shifting City
  17. My Face
  18. He's A Liquid

Tracks 1-12: all single edits or remixes. This version of "Endlessly" is the original 1982 single version, not the 1983 version featured on the previous Assembly compilation.

"Nightlife" is stated as being from The Pleasures of Electricity, even though said album had yet to be published.

This version of "Shifting City" is the live in the studio version as appears on the "Subterranean Omnidelic Exotour" album.

The final two tracks are previously unavailable 'bonus' tracks, namely My Face, issued in 1980 as a flexi-disc only with Smash Hits magazine, and an alternative version of the Metamatic track "He's A Liquid", quoted as being the B side to Underpass promo-only 12" single.

Related Research Articles

John Foxx Musical artist

John Foxx is an English singer, musician, artist, photographer, graphic designer, writer, teacher and lecturer. He was the original lead singer of the band Ultravox, before leaving to embark on a solo career. Primarily associated with electronic synthesizer music, he has also pursued a parallel career in graphic design and education.

<i>Metamatic</i> 1980 studio album by John Foxx

Metamatic is the debut solo album by John Foxx, released in 1980. It was his first solo project following his split with Ultravox the previous year. A departure from the mix of synthesizers and conventional rock instrumentation on that band's work, Metamatic was purely electronic in sound. The name 'Metamatic' comes from a painting machine by kinetic artist Jean Tinguely, first exhibited at the Paris Biennial in 1959. The album peaked at #18 on the UK Albums Chart.

<i>The Golden Section</i> 1983 studio album by John Foxx

The Golden Section is a 1983 album by English musician John Foxx. A progression from the sound of The Garden (1981), Foxx called The Golden Section "a roots check: Beatles, Church music, Psychedelia, The Shadows, The Floyd, The Velvets, Roy Orbison, Kraftwerk, and cheap pre-electro Europop". The album was Foxx's first work with a producer since his final Ultravox album, Systems of Romance, in 1978; The Golden Section was co-produced by Zeus B. Held, well known in the Krautrock scene of the 1970s. In addition to Foxx's wide array of synthesizers, the production made extensive use of vocoder effects and sampling, along with traditional rock guitar.

<i>In Mysterious Ways</i> 1985 studio album by John Foxx

In Mysterious Ways is a 1985 album by John Foxx, the follow-up to his album The Golden Section, released two years previously. It features some of the highly romantic style similar to 1981's The Garden album. Largely missing from this recording are many of the styles Foxx was known for in favor of a more soulful, contemporary pop sound.

<i>The Garden</i> (John Foxx album) 1981 studio album by John Foxx

The Garden is a 1981 album by John Foxx, the follow-up to his debut solo album Metamatic, released the previous year. However, its instrumentation and highly romantic style is more comparable to Systems of Romance, his last album with former band Ultravox, released in 1978.

<i>Systems of Romance</i> 1978 studio album by Ultravox

Systems of Romance, released on 8 September 1978, is the third album by British new wave band Ultravox. It was the final recording for the group with original lead singer, lyricist and co-composer John Foxx, and their first album without guitarist Stevie Shears, who had left the band. Shears was replaced by Robin Simon, making his first and only appearance on an Ultravox album. Though not a commercial success, Systems of Romance had a significant influence on the electropop music that came after it.

Burning Car 1980 single by John Foxx

"Burning Car" is a song by John Foxx, released as a single in 1980. It was his third solo single, following "Underpass" and "No-One Driving" earlier in the year. The track was not included on Foxx's debut solo album Metamatic, post-dating its January 1980 release, but has been included as a bonus track on the 2001 and 2007 CD reissues. It was Foxx's last 1980s record in a hard-edged electronica style.

Miles Away (John Foxx song) 1980 single by John Foxx

"Miles Away" is a song by John Foxx, released as a single in October 1980. It was his fourth solo single, following "Burning Car" in July that year. The track was not included on any original album, falling roughly midway between the release of Foxx's debut LP Metamatic in January 1980 and his second album The Garden in September 1981.

<i>Cathedral Oceans</i> 1997 studio album by John Foxx

Cathedral Oceans is an album of ambient music by John Foxx, released in 1997. Alongside Shifting City released on the same day, it marked Foxx's return to the music scene after an absence of seven years. It was also his first solo album since 1985's In Mysterious Ways. The album's artwork consists of collages by Foxx himself, overlaying various pictures and textures with the faces of statues.

<i>The Pleasures of Electricity</i> 2001 studio album by John Foxx and Louis Gordon

The Pleasures of Electricity is an album by John Foxx and Louis Gordon, released in 2001. It was the duo's second studio album, and Foxx's third after his return to the music scene in 1997.

Retro was the only EP (7") by Ultravox, then Ultravox!, released on 10 February 1978. It was the last recording released by the band as Ultravox!. Also this was the last disc featuring original guitarist Stevie Shears, who left the band after its release.

<i>Shifting City</i> 1997 studio album by John Foxx & Louis Gordon

Shifting City is an album by John Foxx and Louis Gordon, released in 1997. Released simultaneously with Foxx's ambient album Cathedral Oceans, Shifting City was Foxx's first album release since In Mysterious Ways (1985).

<i>Metatronic</i> 2010 compilation album by John Foxx

Metatronic is a retrospective compilation of recorded audio and visual material by British musician and recording artist John Foxx. It was released in 2010 by Edsel Records to mark the 30th anniversary of Foxx's debut solo album Metamatic and the start of his solo career. The idea for the compilation was first mentioned in the Ultravox fanzine Extreme Voice back in 1999.

John Foxx and the Maths is a musical project featuring electronic music pioneer John Foxx and Benge. The duo were initially a studio based project working from Benge's studio in Shoreditch, London but have also engaged in live work. Hannah Peel has been credited as a member on several of the later releases. The group specialises in the use of analogue synthesizers and drum machines and has to date released several full studio albums, singles and live recordings.

No-One Driving 1980 single by John Foxx

"No-One Driving" is a 1980 song by UK artist John Foxx, and was released as a single in March 1980. It was the second single release from the Metamatic album, after "Underpass". The song is typical of Foxx's musical output of the time, featuring a Ballardian dystopian scenario involving an automobile in the lyrics, with music produced using electronic instruments only.

This is a complete discography of the British recording artist John Foxx.

Underpass (song) 1980 single by John Foxx

"Underpass" is a song by UK artist John Foxx, and was released as a single in January 1980. It was the artist's first solo single release after leaving the band Ultravox and the first single release from the Metamatic album, which was released shortly after.

<i>Assembly</i> (John Foxx album) 1992 compilation album by John Foxx

Assembly is the title of an 18-track compilation album by British recording artist John Foxx, issued in 1992. It contains tracks from the artist's first four albums – Metamatic, The Garden, The Golden Section and In Mysterious Ways as well as tracks which had not been previously issued in an album format. The album was remastered for CD by Foxx himself, and although was the first time many of his solo tracks had appeared on CD there were no new tracks and none of the tracks remain exclusive to this release.

Europe After the Rain 1981 single by John Foxx

"Europe After The Rain" is the title of a John Foxx song, released as a single in August 1981, and included on The Garden album released later the same year.

Dancing Like a Gun 1981 single by John Foxx

"Dancing Like A Gun" is the title of a John Foxx song, released as a single in October 1981, taken from The Garden album released a month previously.