Synthpop: Are Friends Electric?

[Bucko]

Whether tinny and minimalistic or intricately overdubbed and lush, Synthpop was painfully self-consciously modern. With the singular exception of ELP's early-70s efforts, the use of synthesizers in popular music really began with Georgio Moroder and Cerrone, both of whom were Disco artists, and the danceability was always an important aspect of the genre (though not a requirement by any means). It was artsy, Eurotrashy and more than a little gay, so of course I was hooked from my late teens on.

Although linked more to Rock and Roll than R&B, its ethereal, otherworldly chilliness and eerie minor chord progressions were really a rejection of both, which, while endearing it to me and other aural elitists, made it more than a little difficult for mainstream audiences to relate to, and it rarely resulted in any Top-10 hits until the mid-80s, by which time it morphed into a kind of paleo-Techno with groups like New Order.

Here are some of my faves:

Cerrone's Supernature (lyrics written by Lene Lovich)

Donna Summer's Working The Midnight Shift

Kraftwerk's We Are The Robots

Tubeway Army's Me! I Disconnect From You, Down In The Park and, of course, Are Friends Electric?

What are your faves?   

[Miss Philicia]

Cerrone's "Supernature" has been one of my very favorite recordings for eons -- and what was really fun was that on the original LP it segued into this really dubby/tribal percussive track called "Sweet Drums".  On really amazing nights Supernature would be featured at (the original) Sound Factory at around 11am when everyone's X with an acid chaser was wearing down and they were bumped up on K.

However, and I surely could be wrong, I don't recall hearing the term "synthpop" until the Brit invasion in the early 80's and though what you've listed certainly was synthesizer based it's just seems like off terminology.  These were more precursors to full fledged synthpop if you will.

[Bucko]

No, MP, you're quite correct as regards the term "synthpop" as a variation on the post-punk/New Wave cultural reference. The reason why I included the Disco in the OP was more to trace its roots rather than to suggest that either is any epitome of the sound as it's commonly understood.

It's sorta like the (rather common) mention of groups like The New York Dolls and Television when discussing the roots of Punk Rock: influential for sure but certainly not in the same boat as The Sex Pistols, The Damned or The Buzzcocks 

Inclusion of Kraftwerk (at least until their Computerworld album) is similarly problematic, though for different reasons. They're not an Anglo group; they are hardly "Pop" and much of their best stuff predates the 80s. But without Kraftwerk, I really can't imagine Synthpop ever taking off.

In 1981 I bought a compilation album from the Some Bizarre label (a very expensive import) based on my having heard Soft Cell's The Girl With The Patent Leather Face on a college radio program. It turned out to be a treasure trove of fab stuff:

Depeche Mode's Photographic

The Fast Set's King Of The Rumbling Spires

B Movie's Moles

[Basquo]

Wow, Bucko, I am amazed to learn that Lene wrote Supernature, and double-checked the credits before responding. I saw her perform it in the late 80's but figured it was a cover to tie in with the PETA tour. The next day I met her at Six Flags, wringing out her skirts after the log flume ride. She was not pleased about my father being a research veterinarian at A&M, but asked I had bought the album.

Down in the Park...I have that on vinyl as well, on the Times Square soundtrack, by Gary Numan. Did I not learn about a connection or is that a cover too?

[mecch]

MGMT - Kids (Pet Shop Boys Synthpop Mix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5fXDDTnkFc

 Goldfrapp - A & E (Gui Boratto Remix)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysWUhI16v_g&feature=related

__________

Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (Music Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIC6_nApwjc

Tears For Fears - Pale Shelter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTn4o2Z-vZU

Let Me Go (12" version) - Heaven 17
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7flghNTYZI&feature=related

straight up eurodisco, but hey:
DONNA SUMMER - SPRING AFFAIR REMIX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzdxHyFRBvw&feature=related

oh I could go on and on and on

I trained for marathons, with my walkmans.



I ran up and down the hills of San Francisco, dancing and running at the same time, and from Battery Park to Midtown, through the industrial zones of Pittsburg, Boston, The Bois de Vincennes and et Parc de St Cloud.

Lot of synthpop worked best on the walkman.  It wasn't the best club music.  It's still around thank god, see MGMT above.

I was seroconverting and listening to Hard Candy in 2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS4FRKjq0ck
(just take any psb remix, for crissakes!)

Never would have guessed that in 84!

[mecch]

Great soundtrack, Times Square. Not so synthy.  Talking Heads managed to squeeze out some synth but the B-52s did a great job on Mesopotamia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ28wVCx-Do&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tos5_NP3mvY

[Hellraiser]

Hmmm I'm not really sure what qualifies in this genre.  I like electronic music in general although it has to have lyrics and not be completely repetitive.  Most of this seems to fit that bill, but I enjoy Depeche Mode, the B-52s, the Dandy Warhols, La Roux, anything remixed pretty much makes me cringe though.

[mecch]

Hell, see ostinato:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato

Synthpop needs to have the synth as primary element and repetition with development is the name of the game.  Its very much about the mix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKziylUIpxU&feature=related

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/15/lady-gaga-remix-pet-shop-boys

If you don't like repetition synth isn't your cup of tea.

[GNYC09]

Wow, Bucko, I am amazed to learn that Lene wrote Supernature, and double-checked the credits before responding. I saw her perform it in the late 80's but figured it was a cover to tie in with the PETA tour. The next day I met her at Six Flags, wringing out her skirts after the log flume ride. She was not pleased about my father being a research veterinarian at A&M, but asked I had bought the album.

Down in the Park...I have that on vinyl as well, on the Times Square soundtrack, by Gary Numan. Did I not learn about a connection or is that a cover too?

I also had no idea Lena wrote Supernature.  I first heard of her when she did, "Don't Kill the Animals" with the amazing Nina Hagen: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh1ar_n-hagen-l-lovich-don-t-kill_music

(Great Lena story btw... 

[Hellraiser]

Hell, see ostinato:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato

Synthpop needs to have the synth as primary element and repetition with development is the name of the game.  Its very much about the mix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKziylUIpxU&feature=related

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/15/lady-gaga-remix-pet-shop-boys

If you don't like repetition synth isn't your cup of tea.

Thanks Mecch, I'll leave you boys to this thread then

[GNYC09]

Hell, see ostinato:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato

Synthpop needs to have the synth as primary element and repetition with development is the name of the game.  Its very much about the mix.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKziylUIpxU&feature=related

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/apr/15/lady-gaga-remix-pet-shop-boys

If you don't like repetition synth isn't your cup of tea.

Missing Persons should qualify then 
Destination Unknown

[Hellraiser]

<3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IasCZL072fQ

[Miss Philicia]

This is Miss P's idea of uber-fierce early 80's synthpop, plus it's in full length rare extended 12" mix.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6-gasOQHB4

[GSOgymrat]

Some of my favorites:

Gary Numan "Cars": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ldyx3KHOFXw

Eurythmics "Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbuMXyzouJQ

Pet Shop Boys "Forever in Love": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZAG8v7jPtU

[Bucko]

Hmmm I'm not really sure what qualifies in this genre.  I like electronic music in general although it has to have lyrics and not be completely repetitive.  Most of this seems to fit that bill, but I enjoy Depeche Mode, the B-52s, the Dandy Warhols, La Roux, anything remixed pretty much makes me cringe though.

Synthpop is an elastic term that covers an international sound that, however brief, virtually defined modernity. Though I'd label Lime's Guilty as Hi-NRG, it's sure synthy and poppy enough to any ears for whom it wasn't played to death in the fag bars of the early 80s, this one even more so.

It's much harder to pin down than, say, the No Wave scene.

Down in the Park...I have that on vinyl as well, on the Times Square soundtrack, by Gary Numan. Did I not learn about a connection or is that a cover too?

Tubeway Army was Numan's first band, before he decided to "go solo", but in reality TA was 100% pure Numan from the beginning.

Eurythmics "Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbuMXyzouJQ

The Eurythmics' entire Savage album is a piece of brilliance.


This one is from a local Boston group called November Group; The Slow Children were originally from the mid-west but recorded mostly in London; Esplendor Geometrico is from Spain.

Thomas Dolby produced Lene's New Toy, which is about as synth as she ever got.

The Simple Minds, whom I grew to dislike, did this much earlier, which is a synth masterpiece.

[mecch]

The Simple Minds, whom I grew to dislike, did this much earlier, which is a synth masterpiece.

Simple Minds were quite motivating and enhanced the atmosphere of many a foggy San Francisco run.  Especially brillant when it could be sunny and warm in the day and they frigid and mysterious at night - the minor notes and sparkly driving darkness.

[Bucko]

Simple Minds were quite motivating and enhanced the atmosphere of many a foggy San Francisco run.  Especially brillant when it could be sunny and warm in the day and they frigid and mysterious at night - the minor notes and sparkly driving darkness.

Hmmm...one of the few regrets I've had in life is never having been to SF in the late-70s or early 80s. Boston, wild though it was, couldn't hold a candle on the hedonism scale.

Thomas Dolby produced Lene's New Toy, which is about as synth as she ever got.

While trolling my music files, I suddenly remembered these two, which are not just very synthy but quite early (1978):

One Lonely Heart

Big Bird

[Basquo]

This is one of my faves, and I'll post whatever I liked to mix it into when I find it...Robots?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-sW2NnLBPo

[Basquo]

Ahh, this is it...Alexander Robotnik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0uf41K7Jo

[GNYC09]

Ahh, this is it...Alexander Robotnik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0uf41K7Jo

wow, I'd never heard of this (person? group?) and I really liked it 

let's not forget ART OF NOISE    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5UdiTOi4s  (Beatbox)

[GSOgymrat]

I don't know if it qualifies as synthpop but I really enjoy the Verve Remixed series.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verve_Remixed

Here is a very good video for Nina Simone & Felix Da Housecat's "Sinnerman" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hcEiEyylEA

The remix of Marlena Shaw's "California Soul" completely rocks. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UW1QGrRmRQ4

[Bucko]

Ahh, this is it...Alexander Robotnik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0uf41K7Jo

wow, I'd never heard of this (person? group?) and I really liked it 

let's not forget ART OF NOISE    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q5UdiTOi4s  (Beatbox)

Thank you both for great contributions to this thread.

I can't believe that no one has mentioned The Human League yet:

Things Dreams Are Made Of

Sound Of The Crowd

Hard Times

Phil Oakley's finest moment (with major help from G Moroder). It's the song by which I choose to remember my beautiful, impossible ex Carlos (1985-89):

Electric Dreams

Orchestral Maneuvers In The Dark:

Electricity

Enola Gay

[Bucko]

This is not just excessively synthy, but queer as fuck all:

Visage Fade To Gray

Obviously, Kelly Osborne's efforts here are a major rip-off.

[Basquo]

Speaking of Human League, did you ever catch their album The League Unlimited Ochestra? It was basically a "dub" mix of their breakthrough album. Veyr trippy and perfect to set on "repeat" on my Technics turntable when I had a trick in my dorm room overnight...

...I have like 800 pieces of vinyl, I really need to get a turntable!

Anybody catch Data? I have a couple of tracks on Razormaid CD...

[mecch]

The girls would put on Broken English (Marianne Faithful) (literature majors) or Warm Leatherette (bad girls), or Pretenders (all girls).  Clove cigarettes and Marine Girls (Bryn Mawr). Scotch and Martha and the Muffins (Barnard).  Punk girls from Vassar put on Siouxsie.  I thought Grace Jones was pretty good for doing girls.  A girl gave me my first rim job and Kate Bush was playing.  Ha

The first gay guy to bang me used Art of Noise and a very chic white and chrome apartment.  

I got a few curious boys with Bowie's Let's Dance Album. Not my cup of tea (the straight boys or that album), but hey, why not.  Stones also.

If I was in control of the music it was usually a mix tape.

Ah I see now - Grace Jones (masculine, and gay icon, but definitely also a strong woman role model) bridged the gap for me to have sex with girls. And Bowie - the curious boys could respect him still knowing he was a bit of a poof, so maybe that helped them make the leap?  

[Bucko]

Not only is this hyper-synthy, but it's perhaps the most-ut 80s video ever.

[frenchpat]

... and for an example of synth gone bad there was the group Freur:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opaeNiiizxo&a=rRoD7LtwR7E&playnext_from=ML


Pat

[Miss Philicia]

Speaking of Human League, did you ever catch their album The League Unlimited Ochestra? It was basically a "dub" mix of their breakthrough album. Veyr trippy and perfect to set on "repeat" on my Technics turntable when I had a trick in my dorm room overnight...

I love it -- the album is called Love & Dancing and you can now find it in a double-CD form with Dare, both remastered IIRC.

[Miss Philicia]

The Simple Minds, whom I grew to dislike, did this much earlier, which is a synth masterpiece.

One of my all time faves of theirs, along with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFyTTcfeQUw

[Cerrid]

Jean Michel Jarre and Sky were some of the first records I ever bought.

Oh, and then of course there was Klaus Nomi.


Great list, thanks for reminding me!  

[aupointillimite]

For you, dear Bucko.    I think you may like it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n95BQEfLso

Nini Raviolette- Suis- je Normale?

It's got a beautifully minimalist synth anti-melody and has a nice amount of the colorful desolation and longing of 1980.  It makes me sad that I missed it.

It's one of my favorites.   

[Miss Philicia]

::clutches pearls during Magic Jew appearance::

[Bucko]

For you, dear Bucko.    I think you may like it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n95BQEfLso

Nini Raviolette- Suis- je Normale?

It's got a beautifully minimalist synth anti-melody and has a nice amount of the colorful desolation and longing of 1980.  It makes me sad that I missed it.

It's one of my favorites.   

It's lovely, darling. In honor of your retour, here's an OT vid just for you 

::clutches pearls during Magic Jew appearance::

I practically fell off my chair when I saw another of the Pointy One's pithy posts in another thread.

[aupointillimite]

It's lovely, darling. In honor of your retour, here's an OT vid just for you 

C'est fantastiquement beau!  Elle est une chanteuse incroyable!

[aupointillimite]

::clutches pearls during Magic Jew appearance::

I feel like I need a theme song now complete with video.

I will require a shot of you clutching those pearls. 

How have ya been?!

[Bucko]

Soft Cell released an album called The Art of Falling Apart in 1983, and included a separate disc featuring a medley of Hendrix hits, which is both great music and brilliant camp.

""scuze me while I kiss this guy..."

[mecch]

Soft Cell released an album called The Art of Falling Apart in 1983, and included a separate disc featuring a medley of Hendrix hits, which is both great music and brilliant camp.

""scuze me while I kiss this guy..."

Now, that's a rarity, thanks!

[Miss Philicia]

Ah, speaking of Soft Cell... remember that they recorded a later fab track that recounts their night at L'Esqualita (legendary Latino gay club next to the Port Authority bus terminal) from their This Last Night in Sodom which was always the album I liked best as it's very dark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueHMNPjB9n4

extra credit for owning Marc & the Mambas' Torment and Toreros!  Matt Johnson from The The was on that one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz50N2_tCCg

(one of the best songs EVAH)

[mecch]

I don't get an Esquelita vibe from that Soft Cell song, cool as it is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w0RtcY-y_w&feature=related
Liz Torres - Touch Of Love (house 1988/1989)

[mecch]

electrica salsa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFoaKeETWsI

[Miss Philicia]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w0RtcY-y_w&feature=related
Liz Torres - Touch Of Love (house 1988/1989)

House music is a completely different genre than synthpop.  Talk about fail.

[komnaes]

I am surprised that YMO has not been mentioned yet..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk6o4GWFIV8

extra credit for owning Marc & the Mambas' Torment and Toreros!  Matt Johnson from The The was on that one.

The things you know Ms P.. my admiration knows no bound.. I have been a fan of The The since Infected and I NEVER knew he was in Marc & the Mambas'. I only packed up Soul Mining and Burning Blue Soul later though Mind Bomb has to be in the top 10 of my all time favorite list..!

And talk about the mighty Marc this has to be one of the gayest hit singles ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUPk8dWES8c

[komnaes]

One of my all time faves of theirs, along with this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFyTTcfeQUw

OMG.. I am joining this a bit late..

I absolutely LOVED the Simple Minds' New Gold Dream and then they tried to be U2 and failed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv5yQ0Z7MH0

..don't know much about their early electronic stuff and by 1982 they were probably not synthpop anymore and moved briefly into Duran Duran's turf... (or the other way round.. I am sure some folks can still have hot debates on who were copying from who though this was released a few months after Rio).

PS - modified link

[Miss Philicia]

OMG.. I am joining this a bit late..

I absolutely LOVED the Simple Minds' New Gold Dream and then they tried to be U2 and failed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd6riYfLPXk

..don't know much about their early electronic stuff and by 1982 they were probably not synthpop anymore and moved briefly into Duran Duran's turf... (or the other way round.. I am sure some folks can still have hot debates on who were copying from who though this was released a few months after Rio).

Yeah, love love love Simple Minds up to New Gold Dream (saw them in concert for that as well!).  After that they insisted on sounding like a slightly less annoying version of U2.  Oh, and my vinyl copy of New Gold Dream is the limited edition gold and purple marbleized clear vinyl pressing! ~~~~~ probably the best looking colored vinyl I own, even better than my one of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love.

Oh, and speaking of her, most overlook Kate's album right before that one called The Dreaming.  If you're at all familiar with her oevre then you know it was definitely her most experimental recording.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEVMfG8z490

[komnaes]

Oh, and my vinyl copy of New Gold Dream is the limited edition gold and purple marbleized clear vinyl pressing!

Hehe.. I probably got my second hand copy from Amoeba in Berkeley for like $3 years ago..

And, hey, stay on topic.. that Kate is hardly synthpop..

This is still marginally synthpop I think.. I was thinking about it after writing down Duran Duran.. he was their first singer. IMO one of the best singles of the 80s:

(You need to guess: " .. your love is better wine, but wine is all I have, will your love ever be mind..)

This is SOOOOO going into my iPod... can believe the quality of this audio..

[mecch]

House music is a completely different genre than synthpop.  Talk about fail.

Posted Liz Torres not because its synthpop, but because it evokes many an evening at Escuelita, dear.  I dont hear any connection between the Soft Cell post and that club.  Thats all.

[mecch]

And, hey, stay on topic.. that Kate is hardly synthpop..

Touché, Miss P. 
We can do this little competition if you insist, but I promise I'll never yell uncle, and have vast references

[Miss Philicia]

Posted Liz Torres not because its synthpop, but because it evokes many an evening at Esquelita, dear.  I dont hear any connection between the Soft Cell post and that club.  Thats all.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Last_Night_in_Sodom

The album contains a more eclectic mix of styles as well, from the Spanish-influenced "L'Esqualita" (inspired by the drag bar in New York City of the same name

All one has to do is listen to the lyrics.  It's evoking the atmosphere at the club, not trying to sound like the actual music there.  Are you always this literal and tedious?

[mecch]

I spent a lot of time in Escuelita and the wiki article can't even spell the name of the club. You're the one calling out people for "fail", not me. You are tediously competitive with me.  Resorting to name calling on many occasions. Other people have been around as many blocks as you.  Ignore me if it bugs you so much.

[Bucko]

Topic anyone? 

And then there's the odd case of a Belgian group named Telex. Late last summer I was trolling a pirated music blog when I "discovered" them, reading nothing but raves. They were supposedly a brilliant mix of Kraftwerk and Jacques Brel  , so I downloaded their entire discography.

I'll let you be the judges: I find them limited, trite and obvious, yet curiously inaccessible and glacial. Remembering that there's gotta be Pop in Synthpop, I find their reputation rather hard to fathom.

Here they are at Eurovision; here they're attempting irony (I suppose: irony isn't a face-card in the francophone deck of cards); here they are as compelling as I can find them.

Frankly, I find The Plastics much more interesting:

Top Secret Man

Good