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Early 80s Synth pop Albums... Recommendations? |
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#1 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Location: Crawley
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Early 80s Synth pop Albums... Recommendations?
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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#2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
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Does the Lexicon of Love count as synthpop?
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Belfast
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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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#4 |
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Quote:
Does the Lexicon of Love count as synthpop?
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#5 |
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Quote:
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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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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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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#7 |
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Join Date: Feb 2014
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Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche
Propaganda? Belouis Some? |
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#8 |
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A lot of mention for OMD albums but no one has yet mentioned 'Organisation' by them?
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#9 |
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Quote:
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...
Heaven 17's Penthouse & Pavement and The Luxury Gap, are also worth a listen. |
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#10 |
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Quote:
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. Thanks for the suggestions so far peeps! |
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#11 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
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No love for Soft Cell and Bronski Beat?
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#12 |
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Location: Belfast
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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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#13 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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Try some Thomas Dolby!
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#14 |
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Join Date: May 2008
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Echo and the Bunnymen:
Crocodiles Heaven up here Porcupine. All brilliant albums. |
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#15 |
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Join Date: Jun 2005
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Not exactly early 80s but I do enjoy the soundtrack from Midnight Express (1978).
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#16 |
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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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#17 |
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Join Date: May 2005
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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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#18 |
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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Blancmange?
A flock of seagulls. |
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#19 |
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Quote:
Scritti Politti - Cupid and Psyche
![]() If the OP liked Speak & Spell I'm sure they will love Black Celebration
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#20 |
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Quote:
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 ![]() ![]() 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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#21 |
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 424
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The Silicon Teens - Music for Parties.
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#22 |
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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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#23 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
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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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#24 |
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#25 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
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Quote:
John Foxx's 'Metamatic' is another.
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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