the arkive

  • Gary Numan - I, Assassin
LP Track Listing:
A1. White Boys And Heroes
A2. War Songs
A3. A Dream Of Siam
A4. Music For Chameleons
B1. This Is My House
B2. I, Assassin
B3. The 1930’s Rust
B4. We Take Mystery (To Bed)

Gary Numan

I, Assassin

Beggars Banquet
Released 1 March 2019
BBL-40/BBQLP40

Beggars Arkive is pleased to announce the LP reissue of Gary Numan’s I Assassin. Originally released in 1982, I, Assassin is Gary Numan’s sixth studio album and fourth under his own name. 

LP reissue release date: March 1st, 2019
• Restored from the original analogue tapes, presented on HD audio
• Dark green vinyl

Combining fretless bass with heavy rock drumming, Numan further refined his dark, sparse, funky-electro style, mixing it with impenetrable, slurred vocals.

Numan recorded and wrote most of the music between January and March 1982, following his infamous round-the-world trip in a light aircraft and a near-death crash onto a British road while co-piloting a spiraling Cessna. 

According to Numan, who was still only 24-years-old at the time, “the round-the-world flight, the plane crash, these were big things that helped me shape a new opinion of myself. Those experiences gave me a self-confidence, a genuine strength that I hadn’t had before.”  Twenty years later, the singer enthused, “I still think it’s one of the best albums I’ve made.”  I, Assassin’s heavily percussive approach led to several tracks becoming unexpected intruders on American dancefloors, notably the 12” single of “Music For Chameleons” and a specially remixed U.S. version of “White Boys And Heroes.

I, Assassin stands out as a record fiercely propelled by powerful rhythms in songs laced with an earthy cynicism.

“I, Assassin also utilizes the warped elasticity of fretless bass lines underneath his customary monotone vocalizing and abstract lyricism. Highlighted by the upbeat synthetic funk of “We Take Mystery To Bed” & “White Boys”, I, Assassin is an in-depth examination of genuine dance music roots.” - URB Magazine