Three years after his solo album The Wildest Wish to Fly, pop producer and songwriter Rupert Hine came back under the disguise of the pseudo-group Thinkman. The three musicians who accompanied him in interviews and lip-sync performances were actors, the whole project becoming a concept revolving around media manipulation. The Formula, Thinkman's first album, sticks close to this idea (the title track begins with the lines "It's an interview/But it's a second take"). During the early '80s, Hine followed an evolution that led him from disturbing art pop to intelligent but more commercial songs. The Formula is pretty much middle-of-the-road but has a harder edge than the singer's previous LP. Songs like the title track "The Ecstasy of Free Thought" and "The Days of a Champion" are fueled by newly found energy and feature the hook-filled melodies that made Hine an important part of England's '80s pop music…

The second album by Rupert Hine's fake group Thinkman, Life Is a Full Time Occupation expanded the theme of media manipulation that was its main objective, but only halfheartedly. The topic was wearing thin. "Watchman, Walkman, Thinkman," "Willpower," and "Voices in Local Time" do complement well the material found on The Formula (and to a certain extent they could be leftovers). This verse from "Voices in Local Time" sums up the message Hine was trying to get through: "Don't trust in the slogan/Don't fall for the line/They'll be eating your mind." The other songs mostly fall in the category of mid-'80s dance-pop tunes: simple, light, somehow uninvolved. Hine is a careful producer and a good songwriter, so even when he aims low he hits the target, but fans of his usually intelligent (even intellectual) pop will be disappointed by "Never a Tear" and "Dance Yourself Sane"…

R. Hine, famous for his work as a producer (Tina Turner, Camel, Rush, Saga…), made a few records in the 70's and the 80's that were very innovative. "Unfinished picture" is one of a kind: it is a synthesis of the seventies, and even more…

Very good singer-songwriter album that’s quirky almost to a fault. It’s no mystery why this album was not a commercial success, the songs are just too weird! Part of this has to do with Dave MacIver’s totally bizarre lyrics, partly it’s Hine’s snarky, deadpan vocal delivery…

Rupert Hine, famous for his work as a producer (Tina Turner, Camel, Rush, Saga…), made a few records in the 70's and the 80's that were very innovative. A similar approach was used on his highly enjoyable solo album The Deep End, the first release under his own name since 1983. This album came out in the mid-90's but still holds some good lyrical content and interesting musical treatments. Unfortunately, that was also his last album.

The third and last album by Rupert Hine under the disguise of the ghost group Thinkman, Hard Hat Zone walks away from the subjects of media manipulation and information games…

The second album by Rupert Hine's fake group Thinkman, Life Is a Full Time Occupation expanded the theme of media manipulation that was its main objective, but only halfheartedly. The topic was wearing thin. "Watchman, Walkman, Thinkman," "Willpower," and "Voices in Local Time" do complement well the material found on The Formula (and to a certain extent they could be leftovers)…

Three years after his solo album The Wildest Wish to Fly, pop producer and songwriter Rupert Hine came back under the disguise of the pseudo-group Thinkman. The three musicians who accompanied him in interviews and lip-sync performances were actors, the whole project becoming a concept revolving around media manipulation…

The 1983 LP Wildest Wish to Fly closed Rupert Hine's early-'80s solo output. The album took another step toward more conventional pop songs…

Waving Not Drowning, released in 1982, was Rupert Hine's fourth solo album and followed the 1981 masterpiece Immunity. This time around, Hine settled for less daring studio work and a more direct approach…

Digitally remastered compilation of the best of musician/producer Rupert Hine's albums released under the guise of Thinkman. Following three highly innovative albums as a solo artist, Rupert Hine's profile as producer of such artists as Howard Jones, Tina Turner et al saw him return to the area of making records as a solo artist under the name of Thinkman…

Immunity marked a return to solo work for Rupert Hine after a few years with Quantum Jump. Early-'80s synth-pop did not age very well as a genre, but this album (like maybe Jon Anderson's Animation) is a stellar exception…