Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: This 2024 edition of Lament by Ultravox is a comprehensive, end-all-others 7CD + DVD deluxe edition expander including a (you won't believe) 72 tracks, with a newly remastered version of the album alongside a fresh 1980s-style extended remix. The seventh studio album by British new wave pioneers, Lament marked the final appearance of original drummer Warren Cann until the band's reunion in 2012 with Brilliant. But despite the name and the grievous context, the album was hardly lachrymose in sound, and it achieved much commercial success, owing to a prosperous prior experience with producers Conny Plank and George Martin, who drove its lush Chrysalis synthpop sound. Aforementioned remixes include contributions from Moby, Steve Wilson, Blank & Jones, and Midge Ure, while a newly mixed full concert recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in 1984 comes stapled in at the end. Mastered and cut by Phil Kinrade and Barry Grint at Air Mastering, London.

Review: To celebrate Midge Ure's 70th birthday and his remarkable seven decades in music, he delivered a spectacular sold-out concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, showcasing a rich tapestry of his career. This 3CD set captures the full concert, divided into four sets: an acoustic set, an electric set, the complete performance of the Ultravox classic album Vienna and an encore filled with greatest hits. With the support of his long-time band Electronica and special guests Caroline Dale and Ty Unwin, Ure's performance was both nostalgic and electrifying. Newly mixed by Richard Whittaker, the setlist features a host of unforgettable tracks, including Ultravox staples like 'Reap the Wild Wind', 'Hymn' and the iconic 'Vienna'. The inclusion of his #1 hit 'If I Was' and Visage's timeless 'Fade to Grey' adds to the nu-romantic essence that Ure helped define. This collection is a testament to Ure's enduring legacy, celebrating his evolution as an artist while thrilling fans with a blend of emotional ballads and energetic anthems. It's a fitting tribute to a career that has profoundly influenced the music landscape.