AMG Review of New Dreams for Old: 1984-1998

Bret Adams
All Music Guide

Gary Numan is, quite simply, an innovator. New wave and synth pop would never have existed without him. The British synthesizer wizard is also incredibly prolific, and in England much of this extra material manifests itself as B-sides, live recordings, single edits, re-recordings of past hits, and more. 1999's New Dreams for Old 1984-1998 collects 19 such songs. He'll be forever known for the groundbreaking smash "Cars," and a live version included here, "Cars (Live EP)," shows an energy that belies the stiff sterility that synth pop is often accused of. "Dominion Day" is dark, goth-tinged new wave from Numan's underrated 1998 album, Exile. Numan's pop and dance leanings are evident on "America," "Berserker," "New Anger," and "I Can't Stop." The re-recordings "Metal '98" and "Down in the Park '98" offer some interesting variations on the original Numan classics. Sonically speaking, the lazy saxophone and rich piano lines of "I Still Remember" expand Numan's musical vocabulary. The detailed liner notes for New Dreams for Old 1984-1998 were written by executive producer Steve Malins.