Best of 1981- The Albums List

The year 1980 was marked by a profound sense of loss with the tragic death of John Lennon in December. The music world mourned the passing of one of its most influential figures, and Lennon's iconic hits like "Woman" and "Imagine" reappeared on the charts as a tribute to his enduring legacy. Roxy Music also paid homage with a cover of "Jealous Guy."

Despite the somber atmosphere, the charts were still lively with the sounds of rising stars like Adam and the Ants, while The Police continued to dominate. Human League made a notable return, emerging from a dark phase and releasing "Don't You Want Me Baby." This, coupled with Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," played a crucial role in defining the emerging genre known as Synth-pop.

Simultaneously, the New Romantic movement began to gain traction, with young artists embracing synthesizers and distinctive fashion choices, including lipstick. A groundbreaking moment in the music industry occurred with the launch of MTV, featuring "Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles as its inaugural video. This song became a symbol of the new platform that would reshape the music industry, ushering in a new era of visual storytelling and musical dimension.

Retrovision: P. Lion- Happy Children

The Italian born singer and producer Pietro Paolo Pelandi aka P.Lion made a big breakthrough with "Happy Childern" in 1983. The song was produced by Davide Zambelli of the band Scotch. In 1984, he then released his debut album and several singles followed. Since the original release date in 1983, "Happy Children" has been remastered several times and the most recent one is on 'Nocolors' which also features a remix and instrumental version of the song.

Elektrana Line Up 2011

One of the outstanding stages of the Exit festival in Serbia has revealed a brilliant line up for this years festival. Elektrana stage that promotes electro music scene in Serbia and regional will be a host of many young performers and music creators and it will also feature international artists and bands whose music is associated with synth-pop, new wave and electro. Client, We Have Band, Tesla Boy and Juvelen are among the artist who performed in the recent years and this year Elektrana will welcome Alexander Robotnick, The Hacker, Marsheux, Grum, Anoraak, Cinnamon Chasers many others. See you there!

http://eng.exitfest.org/
http://www.elektrana.net

Parade Ground- The Golden Years

Parade Ground from Belgium will release a compilation album 'The Golden Years' on July 12, 2011. This compilation includes few songs from their debut album 'Cut Up' as well as their 12" singles released between 1984 and 1988, all remastered. 'The Golden Years' will be out on vinyl released through 'Dark Entries'

Instant Hit: Section 25- Crazy Wisdom

Section 25 released the brilliant EP 'Crazy Wisdom' in 1985. This 12" record included three songs, the title track "Crazy Wisdom" as well as the electro remake of "Dirty Disco", both produced by Be Music/DoJo team. The record was originally released by Factory Benelux (FBN 45) and it was also featured on 'Section 25 – From The Hip - In The Flesh: Live In America 1985'.

WAW: Peter Murphy- I Spit Roses

Peter Murphy's has released his ninth studio album this month on June 7, 2011. The album is entitled Ninth and here is the video for the first single "I Spit Roses" which was released in March this year. The video was directed by Justin Coloma.

In Conversation: A Terrible Splendour

A New Romantic Cabaret outfit A Terrible Splendour which has been featured here earlier this month are back for an interview. Last week they released they released their debut single "The Russians" / "Slaves to the City" and they are working on their first album. Find out more about the band, their upcoming debut CD, influences and a very special ATS style Poncewave. Enjoy the interview!

"Are We Not New Wave?"

A brand new New Wave study is out. The book is called "Are We Not New Wave?: Modern Pop at the Turn of the 1980s" and it tries to give the definite answer to what New Wave really is. The author Theo Cateforis provides the first musical and cultural history of the new wave movement, charting its rise out of mid-1970s punk to its ubiquitous early 1980s MTV presence and downfall in the mid-1980s. The book also explores the meanings behind the music’s distinctive traits—its characteristic whiteness and nervousness. Three decades after its rise and fall, new wave’s influence looms large over the contemporary pop scene, recycled and celebrated not only in reunion tours, VH1 nostalgia specials. Find out more about the book here

Next Wave: Soft Metals

Soft Metal is a duo from Portland consisting of Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks who met at the audition for a band. Their mutual love is early 80's Synth-pop, EBM, Krautrock, Post punk, and the first wave of industrial music set the course. After a few sessions together the partnership proved to be exactly what they had both been searching for and Soft Metals was born in 2009.

Their collaboration eventually grew  into a passionate love affair and the first result is a self-titled album release with Captured Tracks. They explore fantastical soundscapes which conjure the dramatic cinematic worlds of Dario Argento, Roman Polanski, Stanley Kubrick, David Lynch, and the Czech New Wave. Sounds very close to early William Orbit's outfit Torch Song.

June Singles Round-up

June singles round-up is here, the last one before the summer break. The single of the month comes from one of the best albums from last year by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. Really a good choice for a second single, "Fright Night", perfect synth summer jam. The Human League have released "Egomaniac", a third single from their recent comeback album 'Credo' and from White Lies' 'Ritual' comes the new single called "Holy Ghost". Mirrors have re-released their single "Look at Me" which was originally released in 2009. Lover Lover make their debut with the groovy and catchy "Freebirds" and the last one for this edition, great news for Rapture fans as they have announced the new album for September. Meanwhile, here is their latest, "How Deep is Your Love?"

 

Junior Boys- 'It's All True'

Junior Boys have released their fourth studio album It's All True" this week on June 14, 2011 in the USA. The release date for Europe and UK is scheduled for the first week of July. The album is out on 'Domino Records' with "Banana Ripple" being the first song to be released as a single.

80's Duets: David Sylvian & Sakamoto Ryuichi- Forbidden Colours

"Forbidden Colours" was the second collaborative single release for David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto. The song composed by Ryuichi Sakamoto with lyrics by David Sylvian was released in 1983 and it was the vocal version of the theme from the Nagisa Oshima's film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence". Both artists have recorded several interpretations of the song, both instrumental and vocal and it appeared as a B-side to David Sylvian's release "Red Guitar".

Poeme Electronique Then and Now

Then

Poeme Electronique was an electronic synth pop band from South London whose line up included Dave Hewson (synthesizers, production), Sharon Abbott (lyrics, lead and backing vocals), Julie Ruler (backing vocals) and Les Hewson(bass). The core of the group was Dave Hewson who was doing the musical production and whose brother and two other members, the backing singers Julie and Sharon, were associated with the London based group Stagestruk.

After the split of Stagestruk, Dave formed Poeme Elctronique with  Sharon Abbott in 1981. The group went on to record new material but only managed to release one single back then. They released their only single "The Echoes Fade" in 1982 and it became their ultimate brand record and a very important song in the early history of minimal electro. Poeme Electronique faded after the first and only release, Dave Hewson embarked on a career in TV music and set up another studio and started to concentrate more on his own work.

Now

Almost thirty years after their debut in music, the PE is back. In 2009, the whole recording material including 14 previously unreleased tracks have been reissued as a 2LP deluxe edition on Anna Logue Records under the name 'The Echoes Fade'. There is also a brand new Poeme Elctronique home on the internet where you can get updates on what the band is up to. The most recent news is that the label 'Attractive!' has released a remix version of the song "She's an Image" in May. Stay tuned for more.

www.poeme-electronique.com