Vienna is probably Ultravox's most important record. It was more refined than their previous releases during their more experimental period, and reflected a new direction for the band. Instrumentally, it's an interesting blend of guitar driven songs and more of what would expect from a contemporary of synth heavy acts like The Human League and Heaven 17. A lot of the rhythm guitar work is reminiscent of classic metal, albeit without all the wanking and showboating. The record goes from heavy (Private Lives)to synth based ballads (the title track Vienna) to experimental stuff that could almost be Kraftwerk (Mr. X), all without missing a beat. The super clean and consistent production helps a lot in this regard, and the record maintains a poppy feel even when the music is anything but. Vienna neatly encapsulates the whole '78-'82 period, which is, for me at least, the most interesting in modern music.
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