Concert review: Gary Numan, Aotea Centre

Gary Numan. Photo / Supplied

Gary Numan's synth pop masterpiece The Pleasure Principle sounded better more than 30 years on - because it was bigger, bolder and heavier. And possibly more like the record the then 21-year-old former punk from West London wanted to make back in 1979. Well, maybe?

One things for sure, with three synthesisers, a beefy bass, drums, and a light show beamed in from the early 80s, Numan's performance of his best album sure proved it has stood the test of time in 2011.

Sometimes when you're dealing with band's revisiting their classic albums the impact the songs had originally can never be matched by a nostalgia trip years later.

However, from the first searing strains of Airlane and Metal, through to the arcing and fuzzy synth riffs of Conversation and M.E. (sampled by Basement Jaxx for Where's your Head At? in 2002), it's clear this was more than reminiscing. Numan gave the album a stronger, more confronting modern day lift.

If anything, the mega hit off the album, Cars, with its beautifully mangled pop hook, was an anti climax in comparison to the rest of the album which is more challenging - and very much like a punk doing Kraftwerk.

For the second half of the show he downed his synth and it was mostly made up of his industrial rock material that he started delving into with 1994 album Sacrifice. So there were songs like Haunted and The Fall in all their Nine Inch Nails-meets-Rammstein glory.

The 53-year old, who last visited here 31 years ago, looked sprightly, as he lunged, postured and struck poses in his big clomping boots and his battle-ready all-black ensemble.

And while this latter career set wasn't as engaging as the old songs you have to give the guy his chugging industrial indulgence. Because after all he came and played The Pleasure Principle, and, if that wasn't enough, among many other gems he also delivered a sparklingly different version of Tubeway Army's Are 'Friends' Electric?, which was easily the triumph of the night.