Ultravox - "Three Into One" Vinyl, LP, Compilation, 1980 (Antilles)

This is how I see the world.  The center of the world is Roxy Music.   From that world (in theory) came Magazine.   And then there's another layer, and that's Ultravox when John Foxx was their chief lyricist and singer.  Keep in mind that these bands didn't imitate Bryan Ferry and company, but soundwise they do share a certain vibe.   Magazine to me is magnificent, Roxy is beyond magnificent, and Ultravox is the little brother that tries very hard to be magnificent.   Foxx and company do have that JG Ballard vibe as well, but I think there are other bands out there that were better than Ultravox in that respect.  Still, a world with Ultravox is not a bad thing at all. In fact, I enjoy the first three Ultravox albums a lot.   "Three Into One" is a compilation of the first three Ultravox albums, and issued after Foxx left the band.   What was Ultravox then, is different with Midge Ure in the lineup. 

I think the critical elements for Ultravox in general (both versions of the band) is Billy Currie's violin playing mixed in with his keyboard talents.  He has a very distinctive sound, and at times he can sound like Dave Formula, Magazine's keyboard player) who ironically enough worked with Steve Strange's Visage project.  In actuality, it's one big family.  The other is John Foxx, whose presence I presume is one from the Punk aesthetic but has a deep interest in science fiction literature, and like Bowie adopting literary works to his music, Foxx did the same.  "My Sex," "The Man  Who Dies Everyday," and "Hiroshima Mon Amour" have traces of a Ballard landscape, and it's interesting that Foxx never saw the film "Hiroshima Mon Amour" but took the title for his own purposes. 

Ultravox is conservative compared to Magazine.  Not politically speaking of course, but in the sense that their music is rarely experimental and is straightforward rock, but with added touches of electronica that gives their music so much flavor.  They can also come up with gorgeous melodies such as "My Sex" and "Hiroshima Mon Amour."   In a nutshell, Ultravox is a good band, that made good albums, but nothing exceptional about them.  Perfectly workable and enjoyable in an equal manner.  They also worked with the greats of their time:  Eno, Steve Lillywhite, and Connie Plank.  A good singles band.  Nothing wrong with that!