Systems of Romance cover

Systems of Romance

Released

Who knows how history might have gone if the John Foxx-led era of Ultravox was able to stick around for more releases after Systems of Romance, but given the multiple resulting projects that gained success in their own right as well as the veneration of the album among synthpop stars to follow, maybe the split was what needed to happen in the end. As it stands, Systems is a remarkable listen, Foxx’s at once precise and dreamily-delivered singing set against astonishing electronic-led arrangements on standouts like “Slow Motion” and “Quiet Men.”

Ned Raggett

Recommended by

Suggestions
Dazzle Ships cover

Dazzle Ships

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Feast cover

Feast

The Creatures
Paradise Discotheque cover

Paradise Discotheque

Crime & the City Solution
Vienna cover

Vienna

Ultravox
Mixed Up cover

Mixed Up

The Cure
Songs to Learn and Sing cover

Songs to Learn and Sing

Echo & the Bunnymen
Love cover

Love

The Cult
Premier Hits cover

Premier Hits

Gary Numan, Tubeway Army
101 cover

101

Depeche Mode