Track Listing

1. Dive Into The Sun
2. Rooted
3. The Way Back Home
4. Just For You
5. Sleep Talking
6. Retroglide
7. All Around
8. Clouds
9. Hell Town Story
10. Ship
11. All I Need

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10967 in Music
• Released on: 2006-09-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 55 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Retroglide is the first "proper" Level 42 album in more than ten years, marking the return of the band's classic pairing of Mark King and Mark Lindup. Level 42 were always a band for grownups, which is probably why they've managed to age so well. And the good news for fans is that Retroglide is a return to form for the band, who will instantly recognise King's trademark basslines. In King's hands, the bass guitar is capable of both rhythm and melody, and it's a talent he displays throughout Retroglide. Album opener "Dive Into the Sun" showcases King's mastery of the slap bass, as he frantically plays his instrument's fretboard to keep pace with both drums and guitar. He also displays restraint on tracks like "All Around", proving that less can sometimes be more, and resulting in a track that's downright funky and almost soulful. Level 42 were always a difficult band to categorise, and Retroglide will probably not change that. It's pitched somewhere between jazz and rock, making them a somewhat more accessible (and groovier) Steely Dan. But the truth is that Level 42 are a unique British band, and Retroglide, even at this stage in their careers, sounds like nothing other than a Level 42 album. --Ted Kord

Customer Reviews

Wonderful!
As a musician myself (I think most 42 heads are wannabe bass virtuoso's) I can relate to some of the comments about the compression, but to me this is only valid to track 1 - "Dive into the Sun" which is a busy song. I have been a L42 fan since day 1 and have seen them lots live, one of my favourite L42 albums of all times is not the early ones but the last one before they reformed "Forever Now" - Some of my fave L42 songs are the Lindup sung ones, - but I think the combination of the two of them made the sound - My fave song is "One In A Million" from the "Forever Now" album which is a Lindup voxed song. The point I am making here, is that L42 was King + Lindup. I saw them live lots as Grupo Mark King and L42 without Lindup and IMHO something was missing. The fact that Mike is back, is bloody brilliant. My belief is he returned to the 42 fold when this Retroglide album was near completion, which is why you dont hear so much of him - Await the next album as I'm sure there will be more to hear of him. Saying that, this Retroglide album is still great, containing some fantastic crafted pop songs, "Retroglide", "Ship" and "Clouds" being my faves, and "Sleep Talking" for the obvious bassmanship on it. This album take a few plays, but it is worth ever £ !

Nice music buried under unfortunate production
Yet another casualty of the "loudness wars". Play this on any 2-channel stereo of regard and Retroglide reveals itself as a cheaply produced home recording buried under layers of compression and overdubs. All instruments are brought to the foreground without any sense of space or air. There's some nice music here, but the recording quality is punishing. A far cry from World Machine, sonically. I supposed someone burned all the quality recording gear sometime around 1995.

Real vibes of the original level 42
Having been a dedicated fan for more years than I care to admit, it actually took me some months to decide whether this would be a good buy or further tarnish the early images I have of the band. Following the early split from the Gould brothers the music took a steady slide downhill and when I saw them three years ago in London they were a shadow of their original brilliance. However I slipped Retroglide into the car audio, spiked up the volume and listened. From the moment the first track started up I got the feeling I used to have whenever I play the 'old L42'. Brilliant - from track to track each one felt right again and I was even moved to tears on the second play of Clouds, reminding me of the wonderful Leaving me now.

This is a great album. Nothing will ever touch the Early Tapes or Physical Presence but it is has left behind the uncomfortable listening of Running in the Family and once again they are playing their level best!

Cant wait for the next one..and Mark I still love you....!