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Early 80s Synth pop Albums... Recommendations?


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Old 10-01-2016, 13:38
Ally_Bowie
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Hey all

Wondered if there are any fans of late 70s/ early 80s Synth pop. I'm looking to expand my collection of the genre as it's my favorite at the moment, for an idea of what im looking for the albums I'm into at the moment are,

Alphaville - Forever Young
Aha - Hunting High & Low
Human League - Travelogue // Dare
Gary Numan - The Pleasure Principle // Warriors
Talk Talk - The Party Is Over
Nena - Nena
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality
Depeche Mode - Speak & Spell
Yazoo - Both albums

Really interested in finding stuff from Germany & Scandinavia in paticular as I find they have a distinctive sound that I enjoy but unfamiliar with who to start with. Thanks a bunch!
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Old 10-01-2016, 13:56
dodrade
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Does the Lexicon of Love count as synthpop?
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Old 10-01-2016, 14:09
mgvsmith
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New Order - 'Power, Corruption and Lies'
Simple Minds - 'New Gold Dream'
Ultravox - 'Systems of Romance'
Japan - 'Tin Drum' , 'Quiet Life'
China Crisis - ' Difficult Shapes.....'
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Old 10-01-2016, 14:29
Ally_Bowie
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Does the Lexicon of Love count as synthpop?
I have been to-ing and fro-ing about this one as I'm not overly keen on a lot of ABCs stuff, it often does crop up though, I may give it a bash...
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Old 10-01-2016, 14:31
Ally_Bowie
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New Order - 'Power, Corruption and Lies'
Simple Minds - 'New Gold Dream'
Ultravox - 'Systems of Romance'
Japan - 'Tin Drum' , 'Quiet Life'
China Crisis - ' Difficult Shapes.....'
Ive ordered the Ultravox one on vinyl, haven't heard of the others, but will have a listen! Cheers!
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Old 10-01-2016, 14:35
silentNate
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OMD - Dazzle Ships. An acquired taste but definitely worth a listen

I'd also check out The Hurting by Tears For Fears and Fried by Julian Cope as well as his masterpiece My Nation Underground and early Human League
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Old 10-01-2016, 15:02
0...0
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Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche
Propaganda?
Belouis Some?
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Old 10-01-2016, 16:26
wakey1512
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A lot of mention for OMD albums but no one has yet mentioned 'Organisation' by them?
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Old 10-01-2016, 16:48
Hound of Love
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I have been to-ing and fro-ing about this one as I'm not overly keen on a lot of ABCs stuff, it often does crop up though, I may give it a bash...
You should give it a bash, as Lexicon Of Love is one of the best pop albums of the '80s.

Heaven 17's Penthouse & Pavement and The Luxury Gap, are also worth a listen.
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Old 10-01-2016, 17:56
Ally_Bowie
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You should give it a bash, as Lexicon Of Love is one of the best pop albums of the '80s.

Heaven 17's Penthouse & Pavement and The Luxury Gap, are also worth a listen.
I have both heaven 17s one my dad gave me his old vinyls of those, I really like P&P, The Luxury Gap is grand also. Both excellent albums.

Thanks for the suggestions so far peeps!
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Old 10-01-2016, 18:58
Moleskin
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No love for Soft Cell and Bronski Beat?
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Old 10-01-2016, 19:32
mgvsmith
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The Associates - 'Sulk'
The Thompson Twins - ' Quick Step and Side Kick'


There are also albums by The Psychedelic Furs (Forever Now) and The Teardrop Explodes (Wilder) that might be described as synthpop at least partially. Both bands are worth a listen either way.
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Old 10-01-2016, 19:55
sheila blige
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Try some Thomas Dolby!
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Old 10-01-2016, 19:58
RileyScott
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Echo and the Bunnymen:

Crocodiles
Heaven up here
Porcupine.

All brilliant albums.
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Old 10-01-2016, 20:06
Barbra
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Not exactly early 80s but I do enjoy the soundtrack from Midnight Express (1978).
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Old 10-01-2016, 20:38
alanwarwic
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Most obviously had influence from Kraftwerk. Their 1971 synth heavy metal like acoustic 'live on FM' Bremen is well worth a listen.
Also of interest is the 1981 Eurythmics album 'In the Garden'.

The album Movement by New Order sits with the above two in being devoid of pop influence.
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Old 10-01-2016, 22:27
VincentH
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Another vote for Propaganda's 'A Secret Wish'. Also Visage's first album with 'Moon Over Moscow' and 'Mind Of A Toy' on it.

Also both Thomas Dolby's first albums, 'The Golden Age Of Wireless' with 'Airwaves' being a highlight, and the follow up 'The Flat Earth'.

John Foxx's 'Metamatic' is another.
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Old 10-01-2016, 22:34
cathh70
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Blancmange?
A flock of seagulls.
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Old 10-01-2016, 23:22
silentNate
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Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche
Such a great album, Has it stood the test of time well though??

If the OP liked Speak & Spell I'm sure they will love Black Celebration
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Old 11-01-2016, 08:27
0...0
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Such a great album, Has it stood the test of time well though??

If the OP liked Speak & Spell I'm sure they will love Black Celebration
I don't know. Recently I bought the CD because I love Wood Beez but never got round to listening to it.

OP you may find this CD interesting as it seems to be more on the bleak synth side.
My link isn't working for some reason but Google Death Disco and you might find something you like on there.
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Old 11-01-2016, 08:31
sickparrot
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The Silicon Teens - Music for Parties.
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Old 11-01-2016, 09:06
Arcana
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Most of the obvious ones have been mentioned already.

I would add Spandau Ballet's first album 'Journeys To Glory'.
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Old 11-01-2016, 09:07
WinterFire
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There have been many good recommendations here. I'd add Erasure, with Wonderland being a good place to start.

IMHO anyone interested in early 80s synthpop albums should definitely check out Karl Bartos's solo albums "Communication" and "Off the Record". Both sound like classic 80s synthpop, albeit very vocoder heavy. In particular Off the Record has several songs that IMHO would have been massive hits if released in the 80s.
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Old 11-01-2016, 10:01
sickparrot
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Also best synthpop track ever:

Vision's Lucifers Friend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPSI-Hu_AIw
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Old 11-01-2016, 11:13
BasilRathbon
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John Foxx's 'Metamatic' is another.
Indeed. Metamatic is arguably the album that created the whole synth pop genre. Whilst contemporaries like Numan, OMD and Foxx's old band Ultravox had synths, they were still playing conventional instruments alongside them. Metamatic was the first entirely-electronic album and John Foxx never really got the credit or commercial success he deserved,


As the OP has asked about German or Scandinavian bands I'll also suggest Fra Lippo Lippi's "Songs" and Robert Görl's "Night Full Of Tension".
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