Though its genesis was in the middle of the new wave movement, synthpop would continue to exist beyond the 80s with a new resurgence in recent years. The most common definition of synthpop would be that these bands in the subgenre prioritized the use of synthesizers and sequencers to generate music. But there is more to it than just that. There is a conscious element of creating music that is obviously mechanical, while injecting vocal arrangements that are warm and empathic. Present is ostinato – a constant, repetitive sound from beginning to end, like the background of “Save a Prayer” by Duran Duran or a never changing drum pattern. Even with today’s technology available, synthpop continue to incorporate ostianto though they have the means to create more luscious arrangements and soundscapes.
As a matter of image, these bands, like the rest of new wave, experimented with their looks. There was a conscious blurring of gender and/or sexuality; there was no rejection of queerity – in fact, two synthpop greats, Bronski Beat (“Small Town Boy”) and Erasure (“A Little Respect”), were more than willing to bring the gay cause to the forefront of their music. What new wave and synthpop allowed was not just a new way of thinking about music, but also a new way of thinking about what was acceptable to write about in music. And though new wave would die out with the hairbands of the 80s, synthpop would outlive the 90s, and continue to challenge the notion that music had to be guitar based and/or realistic sounding till present day.
A-ha: “Hunting High and Low” (1985)
The debut album by a Norwegian band that still retains its popularity on the Continent, A-ha (homepage) hit the American radio and video play in an impressive way with “Take on Me” (top 5 single in Norway, UK, USA, France, and Germany to name a few countries). A-ha in the United States will always be known as the band that had that catchy video with the girl who falls into the pencil drawn comic book. They were ahead of their time; creating a video that set the standard for 1985. And 2009 will see A-ha releasing their ninth studio album.
Why is it a must? Though we all know the single “Take on Me,” included on this album is also “The Sun Always Shines on TV.” This is an incredible song and demonstration of craftsmanship. (The video references at the beginning the video for “Take on Me.”) The song is more sophisticated in sound and arrangements than the first wave of synthpop – technology had greatly improved. But like many other Scandinavians (Abba, Moonbabies, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, Savoy, etc…), these boys have an ear for writing music that is unpredictable, catchy, and infectious. This album is no different.
Track Listing:
1. Take on Me
2. Train of Thought
3. Hunting High and Low
4. The Blue Sky
5. Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale
6. The Sun Always Shines on TV
7. And You Tell Me
8. Love Is Reason
9. I Dream Myself Alive
10. Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Depeche Mode: “Speak & Spell” (1981)
Formed in 1980, Depeche Mode (homepage) originally included David Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher, and Vince Clarke, who was originally the primary song writer and would go on to form both Yazzo and Erasure. After playing in other “standard” bands, Depeche Mode would emerge at the forefront of the synthpop movement. Arguably, they are the most successful synthpop band of all time in terms of longevity, album sales, and influence. With well-crafted songs based on the standards of old, the use of electronic equipment allowed them to inject urgency and vitality to their music, something that was not done to this degree by synthpop bands before hand. Critics did anything but praise Depeche Mode, yet they have survived the test of time, as they prepare to release a new album (“Sounds of the Universe”) in 2009. And, it is not just a new album, DM continues to be fresh and relevant to music.
Why is it a must?
Even though Martin Gore would become the main songwriter after this album, what all of the DM albums have in common is a meticulous eye for detail. There is always a sense of “this is perfect” when listening to a DM album. “Speak & Spell” includes their first song, “Photographic,” and that alone is reason to buy this album. This song is perhaps the most urgent song of all early synthpop. Also, with songs like “Tora! Tora! Tora! (written by Gore) and the Schizo Mix of “Just Can’t Get Enough,” there are hints present that DM was going to start a journey towards darker music.
Track Listing UK:
1. New Life
2. I Sometimes Wish I Was Dead
3. Puppets
4. Boys Say Go!
5. Nodisco
6. What’s Your Name?
7. Photographic
8. Tora! Tora! Tora!
9. Big Muff
10. Any Second Now (Voices)
11. Just Can’t Get Enough
12. Dreaming of Me – 1988 CD Re-release
13. Ice Machine – 1988 CD Re-Release
14. Shout! – 1988 CD Re-Release
15. Any Second Now – 1988 CD Re-Release
16. Just Can’t Get Enough (Schizo Mix) – 1988 CD Re-Release
Track Listing USA:
1. New Life (Remix)
2. Puppets
3. Dreaming of Me
4. Boys Say Go!
5. Nodisco
6. What’s Your Name?
7. Photographic
8. Tora! Tora! Tora!
9. Big Muff
10. Any Second Now (Voices)
11. Just Can’t Get Enough (Schizo Mix)
The Human League: “Dare!” (1981)
One of the few major bands that do not have a website (as they believe they do not merit one), the Human League dominated radio play with their hit “Don’t You Want Me” – the number of high school talent shows of couples singing this song are infinite! They considered themselves a song-based band and have definitely left a definite mark on mainstream music. Concentrating on carefully crafted songs, with little hooks unique to synthpop, it is arguable that the Human League set the standards for all synthpop bands to reach – they did reach the number one position in the UK and USA twice, a feat not accomplished by any other synthpop band.
Why is it a must? We can be cliché and say that everyone must own a copy of “Don’t You Want Me,” but there are other great tracks on this album. The opening track, “The Things Dreams Are Made Of,” is an excellent song and a precursor to sounds that would be included in techno later. “Do or Die” has arrangements in it that you can see where some 80s pop artists (like Madonna) got ideas from. Then there is that enigmatic electronic piece, “Get Carter,” that comes in softly and disappears quickly – I wonder what they were alluding to there?
Track Listing:
1. The Things That Derams Are Made Of
2. Open Your Heart
3. The Sound of the Crowd
4. Darkness
5. Do or Die
6. Get Carter
7. I Am the Law
8. Seconds
9. Love Action (I Believe in Love)
10. Don’t You Want Me
Catch the Human League at Astralwerks YouTube Channel.
Here is the link for their video for “Don’t You Want Me Baby.”
Ultravox: “Vienna” (1980)
This band has a revolving door around membership sort of like the Cure – thirteen members have graced this four-man line-up. In February 2009, Midge Ure (frontman) confirmed that Ultravox (homepage) would be reuniting to record new material. (Not a nostalgia tour, as many other artists have done, but rather give fans a new chapter in their career to enjoy.) Not always radio friendly, Ultravox built a career on experimental pop, intricate, interwoven arrangements, and avoiding the clichés that many synthpop bands fell into. With an ability to shift styles (perhaps, like other bands with revolving line-ups, because different members brought a different style with them to the fold), Ultravox never recorded the same album twice. Throughout their career, they were always able to remain fresh and relevant.
Why is it a must? Midge Ure became the frontman of the band in 1979, releasing “Vienna” as his first album with Ultravox. This is the bands most successful album to date. Combining different styles and genres, from sheer electronic, synth oriented music (”Astradyne”) to more guitar-oriented arrangements (“New Europeans’), something DM would do later in their career, the album showcases all of the extremes of synthpop. The single, “Vienna,” an amazing experiment in pop, combines elements of acoustic sounds (piano) and synthpop ostianto and cold, mechanical sounds. This is an amazing ballad that should not be written out of the annals of musical history.
Track Listing:
1. Astradyne
2. New Europeans
3. Private Lives
4. Passing Strangers
5. Sleepwalking
6. Mr. X
7. Western Promise
8. Vienna
9. All Stood Still
(Note, the US edition re-ordered the songs on the A-Side of the vinyl: 5, 4, 2, 3, 1.)
Yazoo: “Upstairs at Eric” (1982)
After leaving Depeche Mode and before forming Erasure, Vince Clarke would team up with Alison Moyet to form Yazoo (homepage), in the US known simply as Yaz. I got to see the band perform on their Reconnected Tour last year at the Beacon Theater in New York City and was wowed by them. Yazoo is pure energy! Even the slowest paste songs will smack you in the face with emotional rawness, while the faster tempo songs will make you want to dance. Even while singing about dancing (“Don’t Go”) there is a conviction and seriousness in Moyet’s voice; even when being experimental, Clarke is able to generate a soundscape (even using real voices in “I before E Except after C”) that is impressive. Honestly, there is a part of me hoping for a third Yazoo album.
Why is it a must? “Don’t Go” and “Situations” are on this album – you may not know these songs by title, but when you hear them, you will start dancing. Synthpop, in fact most of electronic music, is never thought of as soulful, but “Midnight” is one of the most soulful songs ever recorded. Alison Moyet’s voice has been one of the most under-appreciated voices in modern music, and the genius of Vince Clarke’s simplicity and craftsmanship has never been given the credit it deserves. “Upstairs at Eric’s” demonstrates the vitality and timelessness that synthpop music brought to the mainstream and underground, and why as a genre it has been influential.
Track Listing UK:
1. Don’t Go
2. Too Pieces
3. Bad Connection
4. I before E Except after C
5. Midnight
6. In My Room
7. Only You
8. Goodbye 70’s
9. Tuesday
10. Winter Kills
11. Bring Your Love Down (Didn’t I)
Track Listing USA:
1. Don’t Go
2. Too Pieces
3. Bad Connection
4. I before E Except after C
5. Midnight
6. In My Room
7. Only You
8. Situations (US Remix)
9. Goodbye 70’s
10. Winter Kills
11. Bring Your Love Down (Didn’t I)
You can find Yazzo on the Mute YouTube Channel.
Here is their video for "Don’t Go."