John Foxx @ The Roundhouse

The legendary Roundhouse, with a cleaner, more respectable look than in its former days, is full of all types of characters from fifty year old ex-punks to curious eighteen year old science students. Everyone is eagerly anticipating the entrance of one man who shaped electronic music for years to come… John Foxx. Each member of the audience has one purpose in common, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of one of the most ground-breaking, forward-thinking and intelligent records of our time, the Metamatic LP.

A nimbus cloud of smoke gradually appears and after what seems like a lifetime of waiting and pleading from the crowd including one declaring “I want to be a machine!”, Foxx appears as sharp looking as ever. The metal drum beat of the instantly recognisable Plaza kicks in and the whole of the roundhouse cheers with excitement.

After a six-track long setlist from the Metamatic album, with a new backing-band, John brings on his 10 year long collaborative musical partner, Louis Gordon to showcase his new material. Although a lot of the sounds and compositions of the tracks were like an evolution of Foxx’s first solo album, Louis Gordon created his own visual show that did not match the cool yet powerful sound. It was like watching an embarrassing uncle, having had too much to drink, DJing at a primary school disco. It was a great shame that Louis so desperately tried to steal the attention of the audience from the real genius and despite showing that he is a very talented and energetic musician, no one should ever look so much like a Mark Corrigan being “stood up and zapped with a cattle prod” when on stage with John Foxx.

Once Gordon had left the stage Foxx recalled his backing-band along with original Ultravox member Robin Simon to join him on stage and performed Dislocation, Quiet Man and Slow Motion. Although all three tracks sounded as powerful as in ’78, the after effect of the tedious set with Louis Gordan hadn’t worn off and accompanied with the fact that John Foxx waved the crowd goodbye only to come back 5 minutes later… TWICE, left a rather sourly disappointed taste in the mouth. Ultimately, at his best, Foxx was as affable, charismatic and as sharp as 30 years prior but unfortunately the set up, guests and his lack of dignity were extremely irritating and tiresome resulting in an overall disappointing performance from the analogue king.

Words by Henry Wickett-Padgham
Image by Felicity Hayward