Metamatic Forums John Foxx John Foxx Stepping Softly

Just thought I'd share this with you.

After an exhausting evening talking with a friend on the eve of her mother's funeral, and previously leading a study on the story of Lazarus (John 11.1-44) I found myself drawn to this song and the title track from the same album.
It's nothing unusual for a song or piece of music to come to mind of course, especially at an emotional time, but I have not been drawn to any tracks by John Foxx track in this way before.

These have always been among my favourites, and to find such freshness and sensitivity in their composition during this last half an hour has been both intensely moving and refreshing.

It is well known that John's music is not intentionally religious, and I am not going to suggest that it is. At least from the point of view of its creator.
What the listener gains from it (or brings to it?) is a different thing altogether and adds an understanding that is unique to each of us.

Lost in wonder. Where is the precedent for these songs?
There seems to be no context for them at all.

Very interesting points Martin. I know the whole 'is IMW a good album' debate will open up, but I absolutely love 'Stepping Softly' and 'In Mysterious Ways'. OK, a different direction for John, and some will say a final stab at doing what the record company wanted ('enter the angel' being Gary Davies' Radio 1 'record of the week'? How much was that back-hander???), but it is beautiful music, with great lyrics about love and tenderness. Together with 'Morning Glory' they make a very contemplative trio of songs for sitting outside on a summers evening. And I'll hasten to add that I think 'Enter The Angel 2' is the precurser to the ideas that formed into Cathedral Oceans.
It is mentioned on the forum many times that Johns songs hold different meanings for different people, and maybe 'Stepping Softly' and 'IMW' should be elevated to headier heights. They are simply very nice songs.
Cheers

I'm definitely on the "I love IMW" side of the fence, always loved the album, especially 'What Kind Of A Girl?' which should have charted at no.1, IMHO.

I think maybe the reason the songs resonate differently with different people is that they are more traditional 'love' songs, for want of a better definition, than John's usual fare on his more electronic albums. More emotion than metaphysics.

The title track has always been my favourite for various reasons but now, more than ever, it has a special maeaning for me. As some of you know, I recently emigrated from the UK to South Africa to live with my girlfriend. Two years ago we didn't even know each other existed, far less entertaining any thoughts of me packing my bags to come and live here. When I made my final, one way, trip to Johannesburg and we met at the airport, the lines that kept ringing through my mind were:

"I put down my coat and my case
as we stand here finally face to face.
I have to laugh at the way that fortune's grace
defeats my reason with its wonder"

OK, so I didn't have a coat because it's still summer here in February, but the line was so appropriate as neither of us ever imagined two years ago that this would be happening. Fortune's grace 1 - reason 0.

What I'm saying, in my usual sesquipedalian way, is that you just never know when a song is going to take on a special meaning for you, but when it does it stays with you forever.

Ô¿Ô

Agree Harmonia Mundi. Well spoken.

Its not a great album for me, but still a good one. 'Steeping Softly' almost my least favorite from it though. Not sure why, but its IMO just not Foxxy enough.

I can understand why some people might not like it.

I don't know if it was an attempt at becoming commercial or not, but I love its overall feel and romanticism. The imagery invoked with his lyrics always fascinates me. How he comes up with them I wouldn't know.

My stand out favourite is This Side of Paradise, perhaps because its more upbeat than the rest. But for a quite moment, you can't beat Stepping Softly, Enter The Angel, Lose All Sense Of Time or Morning Glory. The latter always reminds me of The Garden.

I wonder if he'll ever rework any of these or leave them be.

I always enjoyed this album/cd.
What Kind of Girl will always be a favorite of mine. It would have been better without mid-80s production and more of a keyboard feel.
Enter the Angel is another good one for me. If only the woman's voice would have been left off -- it kind of grates against my skin these days though. The beginning of the song is, as I might add, inspirational.

If I don't listen to this cd for awhile, it always pleases me when I do.

Blue P

I don't mind her singing. It sounds quite nice to me.

I have the inner sleeve of the LP in front of me (since I was going to make a slight correct the lyrics quoted by HM).

However, instead, I think I'll ask whatever happened to Sadenia Reader, listed as doing the backing vocals?

Wix on drums on the majority of the songs is another curious one. I've never heard of him before or since.

Oh, she's been around a bit...
http://tinyurl.com/48tkgb

He too gets around...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Wickens