"Telekon" is the second solo studio album by English new wave musician Gary Numan. It debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart in September 1980, making it his third consecutive and, to date, final No. 1 album. It was also the third and final studio release of what Numan retrospectively termed the "machine" section of his career, following Replicas and The Pleasure Principle, both released in 1979.
In contrast to his previous album The Pleasure Principle, Telekon featured heavy use of guitars and a richer, more complex sound. It incorporated a broader range of synthesizers alongside viola and violin. The album's sound varied from heavier tracks like "I'm an Agent" and "The Joy Circuit" to more sombre, melancholic songs such as "Sleep by Windows" and "Remember I Was Vapour." Lyrically, it combined dystopian themes in tracks like "I Dream of Wires" and "The Joy Circuit" with more personal reflections in songs like "Remind Me to Smile" and "Please Push No More," which addressed Numan's feelings about his sudden fame and his relationship with fans. Some tracks, including "Remember I Was Vapour" and "Please Push No More," hinted at a farewell, suggesting Numan's imminent retirement from live performances. Numan himself confirmed this sentiment in a 1981 interview, noting that the album had a sense of goodbye, with the Japanese writing in "This Wreckage" reading "I leave you."
