Track Listing

1. Dissidents
2. Flat Earth
3. Screen Kiss
4. White City
5. Mulu The Rain Forest
6. I Scare Myself
7. Hyperactive
8. Get Out Of My Mix (Dolby's Cube)
9. Puppet Theatre
10. Dissidents (The Search For Truth)
11. Field Work
12. Don't Turn Away
13. Devil Is An Englishman
14. I Scare Myself
15. Marseille

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8564 in Music
• Released on: 2009-07-13
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: CD
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

CD Description
Thomas Dolby became one of the most recognizable figures of the synth-pop movement of early-'80s new wave. Dolby successfully harnessed the power of synthesizers and samplers, to make catchy pop and light electro-funk. Following the (1984) single "Hyperactive" his career faded away, as he began producing more frequently, as well as exploring new synthesizer and computer technology. Dolby continued to record into the '90s, but by then, he was strictly a cult act.

The Flat Earth was Dolby’s sophomore album release, in 1984, its sophisticated sound was a battle cry to any doubters, combining Dolby’s signature keyboards into a more organic, layered sound. “Hyperactive!”–-the result of a bizarre evening spent at Michael Jackson's house--bore the most fruit, repeating the success of “....Science” in Britain, and scoring Thomas his first Top 20 hit in his home country.

The epic “Dissidents” revisits Dolby’s love of cold war espionage and at the other end of the spectrum, the haunting Dan Hicks’ ballad “I Scare Myself” is turned into a piano-led affair with a sexy, sultry video. The latter is a solo embodiment of the shimmering, breathy sound that would form the heart of the Prefab Sprout sound he was integral to creating - production values which he has said he ranks amongst his personal career highs.

Customer Reviews

Dolby's best and a great re-issue
Bought this on viynl and the original CD, and it is an excellent album.

The title track alone is worth the money, its the best thing he has ever recorded. Screen Kiss and Mulu are also amazingly atmospheric tracks. The original album had 7 songs, so this is great value.

A great convergence of music and sound
The eighties for me brought "Art of Noise", "Propaganda", "400 Blows" and "Thomas Dolby" who may have been the precursor to the others in fusing sound through technology and music to great success.
The Flat Earth album purchased in '84, and whilst it is the only one I have from Thomas, remains a firm favourite of mine. This release remastered the original tracks and is coupled together with b sides, film songs and live tracks. An innovative album of individual pieces of work which stand independently of each other and for me they work together well.

The Flat Earth opens with Dissidents, a subtly dark piece with a great bassline and has sounds of typewriters woven into its fabric. The title track a warm atmospheric song rich in musicality and is sensitive in its approach. Screen Kiss emotes a moving tale whilst White City is more upbeat with great soundbites, guitar work and tempo. Mulu the Rain forest brings the tempo down and epitomises the sounds and textures from a forest. I scare myself a smokie jazz piece layered with a haunting trumpet and a sultry piano which I think is brilliant. It reminds me of the underrated album Working Nights by "Working Week" - but that's my opinion. The last original track Hyperative does what it says, its a great upbeat pop song, written initially for the late Michael Jackson.

The additional tracks add a further dimension and interest with Get out of my mix, full of sampling such that it just works, Puppet Theatre shelved from the original release has whodini's Magic Wand running through it's veins. (I was not aware that Thomas wrote this track and Puppet theatre is his take on it) and Stevie Wonder popping up with his harmonica on Don't Turn away.

This is an collection of songs that have dark and light with added vibrancy in their colour and textures that are interesting and are full of intrigue. A line from Hyperactive says "with the vision in my brain and the music in my veins and the dirty rhythm in my blood, they are messing with my heart". The music may certainly penetrate your mind leaving you fulfilled. A superb album and if you wish to leave the current 80's retro offerings currently on the music scene then have a listen to this.

Pure brilliance!
This cd is brilliant!
The fretless bass by mathew seligman is amazing!
when you think what year this was recorded it's unbelievable!
Dolby was way ahead of his time.
I only wish he would put the musicians on this cd together as a band & tour the uk!!