[1] Time for Fear (Who's Afraid) (Dudley/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 4:43
[2] Beat Box ["Diversion One"] (Dudley/Horn/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 8:33
[3] Snapshot (Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 1:00
[4] Close (To the Edit) (Dudley/Horn/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 5:41
[5] Who's Afraid (Of the Art of Noise) (Dudley/Jeczalik/Morley) - 4:22
[6] Moments in Love (Dudley/Horn/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 10:14
[7] Momento (Dudley/Horn/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 2:14
[8] How to Kill (Dudley/Horn/Jeczalik/Langan/Morley) - 2:44
[9] Realization (Horn/Jeczalik/Morley) - 1:41
Art of Noise's first full album consolidated the future shock of the
earlier EPs and singles in one entertaining and often frightening and
screwed up package. Rarely has something aiming for modern pop status
also sought to destroy and disturb so effectively. The most legendary
song is still "Close (To the Edit)," benefiting not merely from the
innovative video but from its strong funk groove and nutty sense of
humor in the mostly lyricless vocals, not to mention the "Hey!" vocal
hook the Prodigy would sample for "Firestarter." Its close cousin, the
title track, brilliantly blends a nagging bass synth, echoed drum, and
percussion fills, and constantly shifting vocal cut-ups, random noises,
and strange melodies. They're just two highlights on this prescient
release, though. Part of the thrill of Who's Afraid is the sense of
juxtaposition and playing around, something still not very common in
music and even less so in the pop music genre. The blunt political
protest of "A Time for Fear (Who's Afraid)" and the more abstract "How
to Kill," achieved via appropriate sampling, slams right up against the
rough beat sonics and serene orchestration. If such material had
appeared on Rephlex or even DHR in the mid- to late '90s, few would
have been surprised. Things aren't all dour and gloomy, though; "Beat
Box" captures heavy grooves from said source with quirky vocal bits and
soft vibes. Patented Trevor Horn orchestral stabs surface throughout,
while Anne Dudley's knack for gentler shadings and dramatic
arrangements also comes through clearly, something that would surface
ever more strongly in her freelance production career. The full
ten-minute version of "Moments in Love" is perhaps her triumph here, a
seemingly pretty instrumental turned increasingly strange.
Ned Raggett, All-Music Guide
The rigid rhythms of "Beat Box" carry on. Here, Art Of Noise builds on
their original theme, sprinkling guitar, horn, synthesizers,
motorcycles and other industrial sounds with occasional dub-mix
technique. Along with their tandems "Diversions 1" and "Diversions 2"
(both "Beat Box" updates), and "A Time For Fear (Who's Afraid)" and
"Who's Afraid (Of The Art Of Noise)" there is also a 10 minute ambient
dream sequence called "Moments In Love." Another favorite is "Close (To
The Edit)." Art Of Noise's concepts have opened up a world of new
territory-more explorers are bound to follow.