When you were young you lost your way
One simple mind led you astray
Now I can see the missing link
So why miss out again
Yes I can see where you went wrong
'Cos I missed out the same
You thought the door had closed on you
Like me you didn't have a clue
Now I can see the missing link
We won't miss out again
Oh I can see where we went wrong
We both missed out the same
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing)
We missed the point and took the blame
A cast of thousands did the same
Now I can see the missing link
We won't miss out again
Oh I can see where we went wrong
We both missed out the same
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing Persons)
Missing Missing Persons
(Missing Missing)
"Missing Persons"
Whenever I hear this one I am always struck by the sense of tension and urgency to it. Along with "She's A Magazine" it is for me the classic NM B-side.
Great intro (as ever) and with a nice, almost 'splashy' sound - lots of strumming acoustics. The bass line at 1:29 is great. Other touches include the bell-like synth, and that nice, smooth electric guitar break at 1:54. Very energetic throughout, and with a lot of melody. Tony puts much effort into his vocal delivery. The tension builds and you just know this one isn't going to go for a slow fade out...
But THAT ending... Wow, how sudden is that!
"Tell Me Something New"
This was a fave for me back in the day and remains so. Spacious, ethereal and highly atmospheric, yet clearly very different from anything else they did, or for that matter what anyone else did.
Feel the hairs standing up on your neck...
It's a studio triumph, cleverly constructed from layers of reversed synth sounds, creating a very appealing, subtle, textured sound.
Definitely a case of 'less is more'. It benefits from some excellent use of the stereo soundstage. It hasn't dated - this one is timeless. It's quite short at 2:11, but that makes it even more special in that it leaves you wanting more.
"TMSN" is quite possibly the reason I became hooked on synthesizer music. I think this one made me realise as a child I just loved their potentially amazing, other-worldly sound. It still does it for me, and this is a classic synth track. What a shame it never got the credit it deserved, as to me it's at least as good as anything the other 'electro-pioneers' did.
99/100
(Richard M)
Now, the album was great. So great, I wanted more. I can't remember how it came about, but I fairly quickly noticed NM were putting non-album tracks on singles! Funds were low, but this was a priority. So I went in search of all I could. A cherished home-brew B-side cassette compilation was soon crafted, and played so much it wore out. These Japanese CD releases with extra tracks bring it all flooding back.
We start with the B side to 'World of Water' - 'Missing Persons' segued with the enigmatic 'Tell Me Something New'. These two tracks go hand-in-hand really. Sometimes they are credited as separate tracks, sometimes as a segued combo, and sometimes 'TMSN' isn't mentioned at all even though it is present!
So. B sides? Often they are the bits that didn't work, or were basically crap. With New Musik, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, some of the very best material NM ever produced would have lurked on crackly, noisey, rumbling 7" B sides but for our Japanese friends resurrecting them on CD (largely successfully - with the odd exception which we'll get around to eventually I'm sure).
Take 'Missing Persons' for example. What a completely "stonking" track. So full of energy and life. The opening guitars rip through the sound stage.
The middle-8 before the repetitive (but effective) chorus is sublime genius. "Now I can see the missing link." etc. Amazing. Subtle synth pads support every detail. Tony's vocal delivery is up there with the best.
Then we get *that* sledgehammer finish and the haunting refrains of 'Tell Me Something New' emerge. Here the boys take reverse recording to its ultimate point I suppose - the whole track is an ambient synth outing played back totally in reverse! It sounds fantastic - either forwards or backwards (it's worth taking the trouble to do both - and you can add 'New Something Me Tell' to your rarities collection. :-D
(Graham G)