Metamatic Forums John Foxx John Foxx Metatronic - new compilation

hehe

Approved!

yep!

2 CD & DVD that sounds good to me!

And I’m still wondering too just what it offer's to us, we’ve had Metamatic 07, and Glimmer’s electro compiling, so I’d love for Metatronic to be daring or experimental in some way. I hope its at least less of a ‘Best Of’ John’s Visions, and more like a ‘His Dark Materials’ (to quote from Philip Pullmans book title), either way, I know I'll still buy it

Very classy cover image, and I love the obliqueness of it, but that typeface, its surely too ‘Jazzy’ for John! Bring back the old impersonal typography of previous releases, and leave all that ‘old new romanticism’ look for Elly Jackson.

Do you mean like a more 'darker' sound? I wouldn't be surprised if that would be the case. Not sure if this quotation would be relevant but:

"...To be a complete human being means accepting the dark side of you as well, and it happens that that's the side I'm more interested in." - John Foxx

Go on John.

It looks like an Art Deco style font. Hardly old new romanticism.

When I first saw the Metatronic cover that font made me think of Fritz Langs Metropolis, I was convinced it was the font on the movie poster! Wrong, its so not its funny how you get these mistaken associations in your head though. I think we need to (jokingly) blame Alex S for his bringing the La Roux similarity to our attention, unfortunately I can't stop seeing her in my mind now.

Should John just stick to his usual font/style? ie, the one we've become used to in recent times, surely its become a brand for him now.

As regards the present Metatronic font, with its 20's/30's associations I could just imagine Spandau Ballet or Modern Romance going for something like it, not that I'm saying they would have, but you never know...

Any 'font experts' on the forum at all, would John suit a 40's, 50's or a 60's font? does his music better suit a particular retro age in that 'future retro' sense.

I'll be frank - I'm not keen on the font or the cover.

It feels like that old photo session has been a tad over-used now... Glimmer, Modern Art, Metal Beat.

The sudden change in font surprised me. A bit art deco for my taste. Or Duke Ellington.

...Unless the 'darker' tracks have been reworked with double bass and a brass section!

"Retro" is THE word that instantly comes to mind with that typestyle though, with the Roundhouse gig being a retro show, than I suppose it makes sense.

As you say Core, the Helvetica font that has been consistently used over the last 22 (or so) releases, has become a kind of brand for JF product. Plus Helvetica is one of those timeless fonts, that will never fail to look modern and clean.

That said, there's always need for change every once in a while, otherwise things become boring and over-familiar.

Sometimes a subtle change is all that is needed. A font such as DIN could work nicely for future releases of new material, for example.

Well, as Denis Leigh stated himself, the name ‘John’ represents ‘everyman’ and Helvetica as an identifier of Mr Foxx has worked quite well in an inconspicuous way, its got style but without necessarily being stylish, and its almost anonymous as its so prolific that we hardly notice it around us:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Helvetica-DVD-Ga...67633513&sr=1-1
(I recall seeing some of that film when it was shown on TV).

22 (or so) releases! crikey, JF is an expensive hobby (only kidding folks), think I agree with you Alec, there’s probably no argument about it being time for a pinch of re-branding, and clearly John has already started the ball rolling. I still like the photo image though, mainly for the composition and colour tones, and John Foxx, literally ‘edging into our consciousness’ (and it’s also a nice youthful picture of the man).