M's best
A. G. Bailey | Birmingham, - United Kingdom | 10/16/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As stated elsewhere this is in effect a concept album delivering an ironic twist on the world of business and politics. I first discovered it in the sale rack at a store in Llandudno, North Wales, and being such a big fan of the single 'Pop Muzik' I bought it. It's probably Robin Scott's finest hour, and eminently danceable too, if you're an intelligent dancer! At first listen it all seems a bit odd but it's infectious and soon you too'll find yourself grooving to some unlikely subjects. My favourite track is probably 'Your country needs you'."
"Pop Muzik" Grows Up
K. Hicks | Tampa, FL USA | 07/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this record way back when it was first released. After listening to M's first disc "New York London Paris Munich", I was ready for some more "Pop Muzik" fun. I was disappointed when no song from this album struck me as good... but then again I was young and weaned on the radio pap that a lot of kids were (and still are) spoon-fed.Today, I think this disc is great and it's about time the CD version was released. Starting with the atmospheric "Transmission" and moving through the bouncy "Working For The Corporation" and "Your Country Needs You", it's not until the last half of the album that you find the most commercial tracks "Keep It To Yourself" and "Official Secrets". You don't find many perfomers who save the best songs for last. But wait, this discs bonus tracks are more than just filler. "Don't Believe What The Papers Say" is great pulsing Europop (but way too short) and "The Bridge of Fortune" is so good it should've been included on the original release. The disc has full-color artwork and the booklet is faithful to the original album graphics, containing lyrics to all songs except the bonus tracks.All in all, this is a great re-release at a great import price."
Robin Scott's High Concept
Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 09/30/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"After the glory of the giddy "Pop Muzik" and the worldwide success of New York-London-Paris-Munich, he suddenly got serious. As if to prove that "Pop Muzik" was more high concept than we thought, "The Official Secrets Act" finds its electronic groove in the musical collision of business and politics. While it doesn't have the lightness of the first album's "Moderne Man/Satisfy Your Lust," "Official Secrets Act" also rocks harder and takes more risks.
The first four and a half minutes of the CD isn't even a song per se, but a floating bed of electronics with a pastiche of radio broadcast clips lifted from (what sounds like) the former Soviet Union. "Abracadabra" is sung in French by Bidget Novic. The song "Relax" is downright punky, a far cry from the disco of the first album. The musicianship here is top notch, with members of Level 42 joining the proceedings.
That doesn't mean Scott abandoned the format that made him famous, as "Join The Party" and the title track prove. (And on this version, the bonus track "Bride of Fortune.") It's just that, this time around, the experiments outnumbered the hits. It is also the most consistent of Scott's albums on Sire (US). Problem is, without a moment of genius like that which was "Pop Muzik," the bulk of "The Official Secrets Act" is interesting and for fans of the electronic new wave that Thomas Dolby and Howard Jones eventually did much better. If you are inclined towards The Golden Age of Wireless or The Best of Howard Jones, you might like this."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1