Album Review: Outward Journeys by The Belbury Circle

In 2013, the nostalgic 80s synth-electronica craftwork from Belbury Poly (Jim Jupp) collaborated with fellow Ghost Box records artist Jon Brooks from Advisory Circle as The Belbury Circle to create a mellow, dreamy synthpop E.P titled Empty Avenues. The E.P features Ultravox lead singer John Foxx's whose distinct, wispy vocals deliver haunting melodies and romantic lyrics on finding one's self and envisioning an idealized life. Thankfully, The Belbury Circle called him back to provide his voice for their newest and first LP Outward Journeys.

Outward Journeys is a continuation of The Belbury Circle's deep affection for synthesized 70s and 80s electronic dance music. While those who love Belbury Poly for the hauntological aspect of his music (i.e, the use of old British programming and library music), all of that is pushed aside here. The L.P. themes of travel and existentialism transport us from our plain ,ordinary world into an ethereal intergalactic digital future and back.  It's downbeat opening track "No Cat's Eye" prepares us for the new path, whether we like it or not. The track picks up speed by the end. Then, it smoothly transitions to "Forgotten Towns", one of two songs John Foxx lends his voice to. Foxx's reassuring, yet mildly threatening, vocals paint his interactions with people in this place like an odd stranger who's a first-time visitor. His curiosity ignites a small hint of fear. Similar to a horror movie, we are not sure what's to come.

Foxx's follow-up track "Trees" is the virtual opposite but a fitting wind-down for this album as it begins to close out. The song picks up from where his previous track left off. Rather than exploring the external world, "Trees" goes inward as he sings, "I can't see through the forest from the trees". Where Forgotten Towns speculates on possible connections, Trees plays along the lines of feeling disassociated because of one's perception. "The problem lies with me. It's all in my head", Foxx murmurs.

Despite its melancholic tinge there is still bouts of hope ("There are times I can see through the trees").

Before and after these two songs are tunes that leave us to travel on our own from the moment we arrive at the moment we depart (the album appropriately ends with "Heading Home"). "Transports" brings a spacey electro-dance fun. We venture out to"Kafe Kaput", which is a lovely addition that features sounds of clinging hot teacups in a sea of people's mindless chatter.

Outward Journeys is a fine debut album from The Belbury Circle whose dreamy 80s techno aesthetic makes me wish the journey never made a complete stop.

Outward Journeys was released November 3, 2017, from Ghost Box Records.