This is a BRILLIANT choice of images well done, the new cover isn't ultravox I don't think it will stand out on the shelf at all It might be that the letters are cut out or embossed but don't judge the book by its cover!

Another thing all the naysayers are failing to realise is that by comparing Brilliant to the 70s/80s art you are not comparing like for like. The old art was designed to go on a 12 1/4 square peice of card; this will go on a piece of paper a quarter of its size- and a lot of sales will be download so there will never be a physical sleeve.

Also design budgets have been slashed- so there just isn't the money for plastic outer sleeves or gatefold covers etc.

Some interesting choice of images there in the previous posts .I pre- orderd my Brilliant from Townsend Records on monday and hope to get the 'surprise' item along with the cd .

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Well! The new design seems very polemic. But, we need more opinions and -the most important- we need to see the final design and to have the cd/lp in our hands. I can't judge the details of the finishing, photoshop, etc. with such a small image (and the big one is no on the cd format, so it seems a kind of study...)
I want to precise my first reaction. Certainly, I understand and even share the opinion that there's something diferent in this design from the precedent ones, something that could make think in a more industrial/hard music. I also agree with the consideration that this is not a super-atractive design for "non-ultravox conaisseurs and potential new public. But even if we expect a popular succes for the new album, we must assume Ultravox is a cult band, for minorities.

I appreciate two things of the design:
- It's very diferent from the previous ones. This is the real tradition in Ultravox.
- Even if I like very much de pop "Brilliant" I was also concerned, like many others here, with the shinny, frivolous, accent of this title. The final (or not, perhaps?) design suggests something more intriguing and serious, something in relation with the mood of the romantic aesthetics that define Ultravox.
I didn't see aquestion mark at first looking. I don't realy like to see such a naive reference. I prefer something more undefined, something between a paper, a film or an architecture.

Anyway, I don't want to judge with severity, just let express my joy and excitement for all the new ultravox things to come. When we first heard of the title "Brilliant" some of us were affraid. And what happened? I think that the majority of us have assumed and now like very much the Brilliant thing...
Finaly, it's just a matter of taste, isn't it?

Technical issues aside (and they at least make it an interesting talking point), I like the new cover art.

If you're not a fan then I've designed an alternative sleeve that you might want to print and use instead...

Love it!

That's the winner for me

Just ordered my copy from Townsend to get the art print. Didnt forget to use the EV affiliate link! Would py extra for a Fast Show BRILIAAAAANT cover

Samples of all tracks now on Amazon UK!
Sounds promising!!!

Interesting. A lot of the snippets remind me of Muse.

Who's the singer on Live Again? That's not Midge, is it?

I think this album is "Brilliant"...
Live, Hello, Lie and Satellite... for now, very good songs.

I love it all! My first impression:
Live Again – awesome (and yes, it is Midge on vocals)
Flow, Brilliant – we all know these 2
Change, Rise, Lie – Ultravox at their best
Hello – well done, Billy! Sounds like 'Ideals' (Ingenuity)
Satellite – everyone loves The Voice, right?
I've deliberately refrained myself from commenting on the slower tracks. Maybe later.
Conclusion: Sebastian is satisfied. Thank you, Ultravox!

now on Youtube

http://youtu.be/d_vMaNsFDuU

Oh I do love when I back off from a certain "scene" for a while... only to come back when the new album is due out in a fortnight. Yeehaa!

Listening to the clips in Amazon, I have to say I'm very much looking forward to the whole thing. So far I've heard wee bits of YMO & Muse influence in there.

Huzzah, Brilliant is now on the iTunes Store (Canada) with an expected release of May 29th. Listened to the previews - wow, wow, wow.

Was Steve Lipson really the right man to produce these great songs? After listening to the itunes snippets and to the past Ultravox records in comparison, it sems that many of the trademark sounds such as Billiys amazing synth lines are there buy way-way too quiet and just not respected well enough in the mix. It is without any doubt amazing to actually have this album, but I whished it had more Ultravox and less "radio-compatibel-mixing".

Yeah, Europe as well.

Oh man, Satellite is incredible.

It's like unwrapping a longed-for gift slowly...

...first - the album name, then the first airplay of Brilliant...the album artwork, a few snippets of a couple more songs, 30 sec sample of ALL the songs...and now 90 sec snippets of all songs on iTunes

Not long until the final layer taken off ...the days can't go quickly enough.

Just need to arrange for family and neighbours to be out, on the 28th, so I can crank up the sound system nice and loud


Thanks Midge, Billy, Chris and Warren - you have delivered

I should add that I really need a 3D smilie that leaps off the webpage to try and give an indication of my actual excitement!!

Having listened through the 90 second previews on iTunes I am surprised that even though there are few instant goosebump inducing bits for the most part it is really hard to pick favorite tracks. They all seem rich, detailed and demand to be played over and over. The violin solo part on Satellite is every bit as exciting as first plays of Rage in Eden vinyl was.

Ah! How great a contrast this is to how it was "then", when all was closely guarded around the music and its making.

When it was "then", there would be nothing but rumours in written word before an official and tightly-co-ordinated press campaign heralded the arrival of an Ultravox album on the shelves. That would be the first contact and I'd take the album, get a stylistic impression from the cover artwork - images, colours, contrasts, textures, even smells at one point when I was feeling particularly synaesthetic - and then sequester myself with headphones on and be carried into the music whilst my eyes moved over books of landscape photographs, heavy with place and pressence and ancient purpose. The songs, with time, all developed characters, I learned their twists, their ways and I dug down, so often then finding new rhythms, new counter-melodies, new sounds which made every journey a delight. Indeed, there are some songs that, even now, I prefer not to listen to unless accompanied by those images and that space to move my mind.

Now, I've become aware that I was starting to listen to the pre-release snippets and form feelings and thoughts (always the former before the latter with me!) based on these short bits and on the context in which I heard them, tainted by other urgencies running through my head at the time, and it felt as if the real potential experience of the songs risked being lost in the digital miasma of easy-access, disposable sound. So I've consciously avoided listening to any more until I get the real, whole, complete thing in my hands and can, once again, give the magic a chance. Heck, it seems that a good third of the album has already been released in one "teaser" form or another!

At this rate, they may as well have just called the thing U-TUBE and left it at that!

Yours truly, etc.

Grumpy Old Git.

Album is climbing up the Amazon UK charts again .

into the top 30 of the music chart , and back into top 5 of the pre-releases.

Will receive my copy on the 25th, according to my retailer. Not that strange, since new releases tend to be out on Fridays in The Netherlands

Not sure if I'm allowed to do this - so mods, feel free to delete this post. I'm hoping for an interview with the lads shortly. Whilst waiting, and to prepare, I've had a review copy. It's mellow, it's loud, its mature, it may not be entirely what you expect, but what you get is Ultravox for the 21st century. And believe me, it's a grower.... Most of the tunes are SO catchy
You are in for one hell of a treat - so yes, tell folks that it's right up there - forget the Pink Thing... THIS is the latest - hopefully not last - Ultravox Album.

Can't wait to hear some of the songs live as the rawness of live performance will add a great edge to them.

Enjoy

Again, if I've overstepped the mark, please do delete this post - I just want folks to know that they needen't have any niggling doubts.

If anyone wants to see the back cover of the new album: http://i.imgur.com/viBSj.jpg

I really dig the font. Very stylish.