Colonel Abrams released "Trapped" forty years a ago in Octotber 1985. The blend of R'n'B and early hours made this his signature tune and a pioneer of the mid-’80s club scene. The song was featured on his debut album of the same name.
Showing posts with label Synth Pop. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Synth Pop. Show all posts
NightCrawl - Lost Highway
Irish group NightCrawl balance between synthpop’s electronic textures with post-punk’s darker raw and dark edges. This year they have released two EPs and two singles including the below featured atmospheric "Lost Highway".
Next Wave: Haute & Freddy
Haute & Freddy are LA based duo consisting of duo Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp. They are known for blending theatrical, vintage aesthetics with synth-pop /new wave sounds. So far they have released a string of retro energizing singles including "Shy Girl" and "Freaks." We are looking forward to the album.
Retrovision: Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy - 'Kiss Me
Stephen "Tin Tin" Duffy released his second single, "Kiss Me" in 1985. The song was originally recorded by his band Tin Tin within the 24 hours, but failed to make any chart impact. This melodic synth pop tune was among the last songs of this genre, before it was declining and transforming into Dance pop.
Hollows - Find a Way
Hallows have released the video for the new song "Find a Way". This is the fist collaboration of the LA duo with the music producer Matia Simovich who also records as Inhalt.
TR/ST - Soon
Following his self titled EP release from January this year, Robert Alfons is back with the melodic new single titled "Soon" which is out on Dais Records. This also announces his fall 2024 EU/UK tour.
Vicious Pink come back with "Unexpected" LP
British electronic duo Vicious Pink is set to release their highly anticipated LP Unexpected, featuring previously unreleased material. Comprising Josephine Warden and Brian Moss, the duo gained recognition for a series of singles released between 1982 and 1988, most notably their track "Cccan't You See...". In 1986, they released their self-titled debut album, which compiled their single releases. The upcoming album, "Unexpected," will be released via Minimal Wave on May 21, 2024. Here is a link to a short Interview with Brian Moss conducted in 2009.
Echoberyl - Through the Chaos
Paris based Echoberyl have released a new single "Through the Chaos" this week. This also announces the their fourth album of the same name which is scheduled for May 3rd.
Houses of Heaven - Deserve
San Francisco based Houses of Heaven have revealed a new video for the song "Deserve" which features Mariana SaldaƱa aka MS. BOAN. This song also announces their second album Within/Without which is announced for release on April 26th.
Cosmetics - Pillow Talk
More than ten years since their debut with singles "Soft Skin" and "Sleepwalking", released on Capture Tracks, Cosmetics have returned in this decade with their first LP. The album is entitled Baby and it features the single "Pillow Talk" that can be previewed under the link below.
Out Today: Allie X - Girl with No Face
Allie X has released her fifth studio album Girl with No Face through Twin Records. In January, we featured her hit "Off with her Tits" and in the mean time she has also released "Weird World" which is the first track on her new album.
Instant Hit: Big Ben Tribe - Tarzan Loves The Summer Nights
Four decades ago, the Italian trio Big Ben Tribe, hailing from Trieste, unveiled their third and ultimate single "Tarzan Loves the Summer Nights," featuring the vocals of Clara Moroni. Interestingly, a year later, Baltimora would gain international success for incorporating a Tarzan reference into his work.
Next Wave: Minimal Schlager
Minimal Schlager is a synth-pop duo based in Berlin, originally from Argentina. The duo comprises siblings Fran and Alicia Parisi, who debuted with their first single in 2020. Since then, they have released their debut album, Love, Sex & Dreams, in 2022. In 2023, they released Dance is a Place of Resistance, a compilation featuring newly released reworks, remixes, demos, and covers. Their musical style is characterized by industrial melancholy and darkness, reminiscent of artists like Chromatics and Gold Zebra.
https://minimalschlager.bandcamp.com/
Next Wave: Candy Riot
Candy Riot, based in Austin, Texas, is a synth-pop band that emerged during the Covid pandemic in 2020. While it appears to have started as a duo, it has now expanded into a quartet, with Bobby Cheatham (formerly of Bad Birds and Distance Runner), Liz Feezor, Ricky Rodriguez, and Erica Porter. Musically, they skillfully incorporate influences from the vibrant sounds of the 80s, offering an energetic and fresh take on synth-pop. Follow the link below for more.
Photo courtesy of band's Soundcloud
Groove Armada Return to Synth Pop with the New Studio Album
Ten years ago Groove Armada released their brilliant album Black Light which also meant the change of course for the duo and moving from club friendly tech house to catchy synth pop sound. Now after ten years, it seems that the duo is coming back to this challenge and have released another very slick synth pop record with House admixture. The new album is titled Edge of Horizon and this is also the single to take a lead from. There are quite a few parallels to be drawn between these two and what both records have in common is that they are both catchy and flawless.
WAW: LAUREL - Scream Drive Faster
LAUREL has revealed the video for the song "Scream Drive Faster". The Music video was directed by Elliott Arndt.
7_Songs: Holly Johnson / Frankie Goes to Hollywood
This year in February, Holly Johnson turned 60, and we thought it would be a nice occasion to pay tribute to him and his former band Frankie Goes to Hollywood with this 7_Songs feature. Johnson’s career start goes back to the late 70s Liverpool punk scene out of which the nucleus for Frankie Goes to Hollywood took shape. Inspired to take a name after the title from the news article in the New York Times, it seemed that Frankie Goes to Hollywood would be there for big things, and indeed, with the first single and the album release they found pop stardom.
Photo courtesy of The GuardianIn 1984, FGTH released “Relax” which was not only a tune but also a motto and a symbol of the mid-80s and at the same time the band’s biggest hit. One could say that it had an impact on the general pop culture also hitting the street fashion and there was also a themed video game. “Relax” was also an introduction to the band's brilliant album Welcome to the Pleasuredome which gave birth to a string of hits, out of which three reached no.1 in the UK charts. The album was produced by Trevor Horn and released on his ZTT label. It was rich, provocative and decadent with excellent production and a festival of influences which could easily be referred to as progressive disco as an end product. With the release of the second album, Liverpool, fame faded and the tensions between the band members were growing. The band managed to release three more singles from it, to tour again, after which Johnson decided to leave the band. He also had to go into a legal battle with the record company, winning the dispute in the end.
Photo courtesy of theartsdesk.com
In the late 80s Johnson started his solo career when he was signed to MCA, released his solo album Blast and managed to have a series of hits including “Americanos” and “Love Train”. In the early 90s, Johnson was diagnosed with HIV and thinking this was his end, he wrote his autobiography A Bone in My Flute. Eventually he turned more to art, but never really left the music business. He recorded songs and performed occasionally.
The band never reunited even though in 2003, the VH-1 program Bands Reunited brought Johnson, Rutherford, Gill, Nash, and Mark O'Toole together, in the hope of their agreeing to perform impromptu on the show. However, a reunion performance did not transpire.
Holly Johnson never performed again with Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
There is not a single thing in the world that sums up the 1980s as perfectly, FGTH and Welcome to the Pleasuredome does for the 80s. In particular, 1984 seems to be the year of the band, when they almost made 4 consecutive No.1 in the UK. Frankie was the mega sensation, the artistic concept and even a brand. They were hitting the Euro dance floors and beyond, and they were shocking the conservative adults to gain prominence. They had that perfect formula, if you are going to do pop, attack it.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax
"Relax" was the debut album by FGTH which also gave them the international breakthrough. It is one of the most controversial and most commercially successful records of the decade. It was banned by BBC because of its lyrics that we interpreted to be explicit. Despite all the scandals, the song sold 12 mill records around the world and won the Brit Award for the best song in 1985. It also went beyond music, hitting the street fashion with the T-shirts with the slogan Frankie Says Relax.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - The Power of Love
This was the third single from their debut album and also the third consecutive No.1 which rounded up a successful year for FGTH. This song is often referenced as a Christmas single due to the music video that features Nativity, and also because it was released ahead of Xmas in 1984. In tone, it was also different from the previous, which were louder made for clubland. The song went platinum in Canada, Germany, New Zealand and triple Platinum in their native UK.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Welcome To The Pleasuredome
This was the title track to the debut album and the only single release that did not reach the UK No. 1 despite having this potential. The spoken-word introductions to both 12-inch mixes are adapted from Walter Kaufmann's 1967 translation of Friedrich Nietzsche's The Birth of Tragedy. The video, by Bernard Rose, features the group stealing a car, going to a carnival and encountering all manner of deceptively "pleasurable" activities.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Rage Hard
In 1986, Frankie Goes to Hollywood released their second album, Liverpool. This album saw more use of the band than the debut album and expressed a rockier sound than their debut, but it was still pretty much powerful in rhythm and form. It was FGTH's first single to be released on CD and even Cassette. It reached number one in the German official charts and No. 4 in the UK.
Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Warriors of the Wasteland
Another single followed from Liverpool, which many think is one of the best tracks on the album. Some interesting inspirations were drawn from T. S. Eliot, but Johnson also cited the 1981 Mel Gibson film, Mad Max 2, and the 1979 film, The Warriors as inspirations. This song barely made it in the Top 20 in the UK and commercial success was starting to decline. FGTH would release one more single before disbanding.
Holly Johnson - Love Train
After the split of FGTH, Holly Johnson released his debut album Blast 1989 and "Love Train" was the first single to be taken from it. Even though it was clearly a dance track, it featured the guitar solo from Brain May from Queen. The song reached No.4 in the UK and also had success in Europe. The song was issued as both 7” and 12” including several versions of the song.
Holly Johnson - Americanos
"Americanos" was another single from Blast that managed to make a big impact on the charts, reaching No. 4 in the UK and was a commercial success across Europe. Chris Heath of Smash Hits described the song as a "80s update of David Bowie's Young Americans in both its content and its spirit, where he acknowledges the superficiality of the American dream but isn't narrow-minded enough to simply condemn it.”
Singles cover photos courtesy of discogs.com
For the complete Frankie Goes To Hollywood / Holly Johnson discography, as documented in music videos, please check the following the link below.
New Order Reveal New Single 'Be a Rebel'
New Order are back with their first new single in almost five years. The new single is called "Be a Rebel" and is out on Mute. It is available on all streaming services and YouTube link below.
Black Marble to Release a New EP in August
Following their LP Bigger Than Life from last year, Black Marble will return with a new EP titled 'I Must Be Living Twice'. The EP will be released through Sacred Bones Records in August and it will feature four new track, including the lead track "In Manchester" which can be streamed below.
7_Songs: Eurythmics
Born out of the ashes of their first band the Tourists, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart soon went on to explore new grounds with music which laid the foundation for Eurythmics. With their creative rebirth however the success was not instant, moreover with the release of their debut album, In the Garden, Dave and Annie used the opportunities to transform their post break up emotions into sounds and experimented with new instruments and sound patterns.
With the release of the single “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” the international breakthrough was kicking in and Eurythmics were among the top selling artists in the world. Where their music was not striking enough, their visual image was pretty much eye-catching and the music video revolution and in particular Annie Lennox's sharp looks and transformations certainly contributed to the overall popularity of the duo. Certainly her most authentic role on display was the gender bending and androgyny image which made her iconic. But, this was only a start and throughout their career she continued to transform herself and that has certainly been a roller-coaster ride of roles, characters, dresses and a real wig parade. She was part drag king, part drag queen and definitely a unique artist. Not to underestimate Dave Stewart contribution, he jumped in and out of roles too, but he was the man behind the music and the Eurythmics' sound engineer.
With the years passing, Eurythmic's music also changed, adopting new instruments and music styles and also becoming more a band profile, most notably with the release of their albums Be Yourself Tonight and Revenge. By the end of the decade, it seemed that the duo was exhausted with ideas by having released 8 studio albums in the 80's and it seems as they needed some space and time apart.
In the early 90's, both felt like going for their own music projects; Annie Lennox pursued a successful solo career and released her debut album Diva in 1992 while Dave Stewart continued to work as an established producer, not only in the domain of music, but also Film and television. Eurythmics however never officially split and in 1999 they reunited for one final album called Peace and went on a tour to promote it.
Overall Eurythmics released eight studio albums, 33 singles and 37 videos and it is estimated that the band sold around 75 Million records worldwide. The duo have won an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist in 1984, the Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1987, the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1999, and in 2005 were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame.
Below is the selection of 7 tracks, by personal preference with the aim to encompass the whole artist career.Never Gonna Cry Again
“Never Gonna Cry Again” comes from the highly experimental period when the duo was still under the influence of their former band, the Tourists. The song was released in May 1981 and it was taken from their debut album In the Garden. This album was produced by Conny Plank and this certainly had contributed to the overall atmosphere on the record. Unlike the commercial sound we would hear in the years to come, this was art pop, drenched in synths and garnished with dreamy, ethereal vocals. It even included rare moments where Lennox was playing flute.“Never Gonna Cry Again” did not reach a wider audience and the video for the song was never commercially available, but it remains as one of the finest Eurythmic's releases.
Love is a Stranger
“Love is a Danger” was the fifth single release for Eurythmics and the first one that was taken from the second album Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These). The song was not a success upon the initial release, but after “Sweet Dreams..” became an international hit, the duo decided to re-release it. In this danger of obsession episode, Lennox androgynous image and brilliant theatrics came out for the first time in this video causing a slight controversy in the USA. The song itself was a dark synth enchantment, intense enough to capture the essence and coldness of the emotional heart break the duo was still going through after the early 80’s breakup.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These)
In 1983, Eurythmics released their most successful single to date which became an international hit everywhere in the world. Musically the song was very addictive with the booming synth lead and catchy tense chorus whose lyrics were also written after Dave and Annie’s breakup. As innovative as it was on the musical end, Eurythmics visual image and in particular that of Annie Lennox caused stir with her androgynous visual image, close-cropped, orange hair dressed in man’s suit. And this was not the only weird thing about the music video. “Sweet Dreams..” went three times Platinum and three times Gold and is still pretty much appreciated by the music community and it is certainly Eurythmics’ signature song.
Who’s That Girl 
After the success of “Sweet Dreams” Eurythmics were on a roll, and they continued to enjoy their momentum with the smoky, icy and synth single “Who’s That Girl” taken from their third album The Touch. This music video saw Lennox's appearing as nightclub singer with a whole variety of guest stars including Cheryl Baker and Jay Aston of Bucks Fizz, Kiki Dee, Hazel O'Connor, Kate Garner of Haysi Fantayzee, the gender-bending pop star Marilyn and all members of Bananarama including Dave Stewart’s future wife Siobhan Fahey. The song became a huge hit both in Europe and the USA.
Thorn in My Side
Towards the second half of the decade Eurythmics moved more towards band style and AOR pop/rock sound compared to earlier synthopop song arrangements. “Thorn in My Side” was just one example of this change in sound and the song was strongly affected by Annie Lennox divorce. It was released in 1986 and it was taken from their fifth studio album Revenge. “Thorn in My Side” reached several top 10 charts around Europe and the Top 10 in the UK and Ireland.
Beethoven (I Love to Listen to)
After the commercial success of the previous two albums, the duo tried to return to their experimental roots releasing an album whose concept was based on synths and sample sounds combined with Lennox’ vocals. The music video is one of the best Eurythmics have recorded and it features a middle class housewife who displays characteristics of dissociative identity disorder or split personalities eventually turning into overly sexual vixen towards the end of the video. The video itself was recorded by Sophie Miller and all videos from the album Revenge will run this concept
I’ve Got a Life
This is so far the last official release by Eurythmics which was recorded in 2000 for their second best of package Ultimate Collection. It is an electro dance track which did well on the US dance charts. Yet again we see Annie Lennox’s image in a man's suit which in a way is homage to the image that made them popular and their biggest hit “Sweet Dream (Are Made of this)”. Furthermore we see Lennox and Stewart performing the song in front of many television screens showing scenes from videos spanning throughout their Eurythmics career.
For the complete Eurythmics discography, as documented in music videos, please check the following the link below.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)