Released 13 years ago this October
Splinter – Songs from a Broken Mind
Gary Numan · 2013
84 min · 18 tracks · electronic music
A raw exploration of electronic textures melds with haunting melodies, reflecting a deeply personal narrative of struggle and resilience.
Top tracks — play these first
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I Am Dust Start here — This track opens the album with a pulsating energy that encapsulates the themes of decay and renewal, setting the tone for the rest of the record.
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Here in the Black — The atmospheric depth of this song highlights Numan's ability to blend dark lyrical content with expansive soundscapes, making it a standout moment.
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Love Hurt Bleed — This track showcases emotional vulnerability through its poignant lyrics and driving rhythm, exemplifying Numan's mastery of melding personal narrative with musical intensity.
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My Last Day — With its introspective lyrics and haunting melody, this track serves as a reflective culmination of the album's journey, emphasizing themes of mortality and acceptance.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends raw electronic textures with emotive vocals, showcasing Numan's distinctive style and thematic depth.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features driving beats and layered synths, while the second half shifts to more atmospheric and introspective soundscapes.
- Vocals are prominent in most tracks, often delivered with a raw emotional intensity that complements the electronic instrumentation.
- Several tracks utilize repetitive melodic motifs that evolve throughout their duration, creating a sense of continuity and development.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dark atmospheric soundscapes
- introspective reflections on despair
- wave-like pacing with intensity
- haunting emotional resonance
- immersive journey through resilience
Maybe skip if you
- seek instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Revitalized Numan's career with critical acclaim and solidified his contemporary influence.
- Career context
- By the time 'Splinter – Songs from a Broken Mind' was released in 2013, Gary Numan was revitalizing his career after years of fluctuating mainstream visibility. This album followed his 2011 comeback with 'Dead Son Rising' and marked a significant return to form, showcasing his evolution as an artist who embraced both personal and sonic experimentation.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Depeche Mode· Kraftwerk· The Human League
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 I Am Dust Start here 4:08
- 2 Here in the Black 4:56
- 3 Everything Comes Down to This 4:39
- 4 The Calling 4:33
- 5 Splinter 5:26
- 6 Lost 4:42
- 7 Love Hurt Bleed 4:52
- 8 A Shadow Falls on Me 3:07
- 9 Where I Can Never Be 3:46
- 10 We're the Unforgiven 5:22
- 11 Who Are You 3:45
- 12 My Last Day 5:30
Disc 2
- 1 I Am Dust (original demo) 4:21
- 2 Here in the Black (original demo) 6:17
- 3 The Calling (original demo) 4:26
- 4 We're the Unforgiven (original demo) 5:29
- 5 I Am Dust (Roman Remains remix) 4:21
- 6 Love Hurt Bleed (Tweaker remix) 5:04
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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