… Read Full Bio ↴New Musik were a London based Synthpop group active from 1979 to 1982.
The lead singer and frontman was songwriter/producer Tony Mansfield, who was also a former member of the Nick Straker Band. New Musik first appeared on the BBC TV pop programme, Top Of The Pops in October 1979 with their debut hit single "Straight Lines" which received airplay on BBC Radio 1 from special guesting DJ Frank Zappa.
Their debut album "From A To B" (1980) reached the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart and contained four UK chart hit singles; "Straight Lines", "Living By Numbers", "This World Of Water" and "Sanctuary". New Musik also topped the French singles chart with "On Islands" from this album.
Touring the UK in 1980, New Musik performed at both the Oxford and Cambridge Balls (with Elvis Costello) and at the Rotterdam New Pop festival in the Netherlands, and did a second UK tour in 1981.
Their second album, Anywhere (1981) reached #68 in the chart, but despite gaining international acclaim, neither of its singles "Luxury" or "While You Wait" charted in the UK.
In 1981 a compilation album, Sanctuary, was released in the U.S., consisting of four tracks from From A To B and eight from Anywhere. Previous to this release, there had also been a four song 10" vinyl Straight Lines released by CBS Records in the U.S. as part of their short-lived Epic "Nu-Disk" series, which had also included The Clash's Black Market Clash.
After the demise of GTO Records, New Musik released their third and final album, Warp (1982) which was more experimental. Oddly, it featured a synth version of The Beatles "All You Need Is Love", alongside an identically titled track of their own. Tracks such as "Hunting", "A Train On Twisted Tracks" and "Kingdoms For Horses" showed much promise, but without promotion and with limited record company support, the group disbanded shortly after.
Known for their originality and innovative approach to recording, New Musik specialised in catchy synth-pop with clever, often thought-provoking lyrical content. Tracks such as "Dead Fish (Don't Swim Home)" and "The Planet Doesn't Mind" highlighted environmental issues, still a minority interest in the early 1980s.
Several artists have covered tracks by New Musik, including Camouflage who did a version of "On Islands" in 1989.
Mansfield went on to achieve considerable success in the field of production for the likes of After The Fire, A-Ha, Aztec Camera, The B-52s, The Damned, Captain Sensible, Naked Eyes, Mari Wilson, Jean Paul Gaultier, Miguel Bose and Ana Torroja, some of his most successful projects.
From A To B and Anywhere were released on CD in 1994, and again in 2001, remastered and with bonus tracks. Warp was also released (with bonus tracks) on CD for the first time in 2001, in Japan. This remains its only CD release.
Straight Lines
New Musik Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet travelling in straight lines
You're racing around
You move at the speed of time
We're running together
We're moving along the way
Whatever the weather
You'll find there'll be no delay
But you can never turn it back
One way
Moving on a straight line
Moving on a straight line
You're making decisions
You wonder which way to choose
There's this way and that way
How could you ever lose
We're shifting together
We're on a production line
All drifting together
As a patent unique design
Yes you can hit the beaten track
But you can never turn it back
One one
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Moving on a straight line
Moving on a straight line
It's part of the service
That carries you on ahead
There's only the one way
The ticket is on your head
With robot precision
We're gonna be doin' just fine
So here we are here we go
Moving in one straight line
Sure you can hit the beaten track
But you can never turn it back
One way
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Straight lines straight lines
Moving on a straight line
Moving on a straight line
The New Musik song "Straight Lines" speaks to the idea of routine and conformity. The lyrics talk about moving in straight lines and racing around at the speed of time, suggesting a fast-paced life that follows a predetermined path. The lines "You're running in circles, yet travelling in straight lines" reinforce the idea that we can get caught up in routine and lose sight of our true path.
The song's chorus, "Moving on a straight line," emphasizes the theme of conformity and suggests that while we can hit the beaten track, we can never turn back from the path we've chosen. The bridge of the song suggests that our choices and decisions are limited and encourages us to follow the one-way path ahead. The lyrics acknowledge that this may be part of a larger system and that we're all part of a "production line."
One could interpret "Straight Lines" as a commentary on society's tendency to put people into boxes and force them into rigid lines of thinking and living. The upbeat, almost robotic style of the song contrasts with the message of conformity and encourages listeners to question their own paths in life.
Line by Line Meaning
You're running in circles
You're busy doing things, but aren't making progress towards your goals.
Yet travelling in straight lines
You're doing things that you think is progress, but in reality, you're not.
You're racing around
You're always in a hurry, not taking your time to make informed decisions.
You move at the speed of time
You're running away from time and hence makes hasty decisions which are not well thought.
We're running together
We're all in this together, working towards a common goal.
We're moving along the way
Each of us is making progress towards the goal we share.
Whatever the weather
No matter what challenges we face, we will be successful together.
You'll find there'll be no delay
You can count on us to get things done efficiently and on time.
Sure you can hit the beaten track
You can follow the same routine that everyone else follows.
But you can never turn it back
Once you start following that routine, it will be hard to change your ways.
One way
The only way forward is to follow the same routine as everyone else.
Moving on a straight line
Following a routine path that doesn't require much effort or thought.
You're making decisions
You're trying to figure out what the next step should be.
You wonder which way to choose
You're not sure which path will lead you to your goal.
There's this way and that way
There are different paths to choose from.
How could you ever lose
Regardless of the path you choose, success is guaranteed as long as you stay on the straight and narrow.
We're shifting together
We're adapting as a group to changing circumstances.
We're on a production line
We're each responsible for different aspects of the project and moving forward in a coordinated fashion.
All drifting together
We're all working together to reach the same goal.
As a patent unique design
We have a proprietary method of working that ensures our success.
Yes you can hit the beaten track
You can do things the same way as everyone else.
But you can never turn it back
Once you start following the same routine, it's hard to escape that cycle of mediocrity.
One one
We all have to work together to achieve success.
Straight lines straight lines
Following the same routine path that everyone else does.
It's part of the service
Our methodology is part of what sets us apart from the competition.
That carries you on ahead
Our unique approach ensures that we always move forward towards our goal.
There's only the one way
Following our patented method is the only way to achieve success.
The ticket is on your head
It's up to you to decide if you want to join us and follow our approach.
With robot precision
We work efficiently and systematically, leaving nothing to chance.
We're gonna be doin' just fine
We know that our approach will lead us to success.
So here we are here we go
We're ready to tackle whatever challenges come our way.
Moving in one straight line
Continuing to follow our tried and true approach to success.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind