Synth Pioneers Pt.4: Synth-Pop
My friend Eli (who needs to do an Italo Disco installment of Synth Pioneers) put me onto this documentary, which is likely the best exploration of the English synth-pop moment. With great interviews from heroes like Daniel Miller, Vince Clark and Martin Gore, it really got my blood pumping so I wanted to write about a few other acts who were originators of the international electronic pop sound.
Talking about the greatness of Kraftwerk is like talking about the necessity of air, so I’ll keep it short. They just released all of their most well-known albums, remastered and with original artwork. “Computer Love” is one of my al time favorite songs. The way the lead seems to phase shift at the end always takes my breath away. Let’s get this straight: A song about loneliness and computers, made before the internet was invented which glides like classical music? Sounds like a plan.
Yellow Magic Orchestra have been called the Japanese Kraftwerk, in that they were both pop innovators and an awesomely stoic synth band. Ryuichi Sakamoto has since gone on to collaborate with Fennesz and Christopher Willits amongst others. Their work may pre-date synth-pop but it’s surely in the canon of influential works. I often play their hit “Computer Games” if transitioning between sounds in a DJ set. When the beat drops at 1:50, it always lights up the room.
A band that is sorely overlooked is David Sylvian’s Japan project, which married glam and (some would say, invented) new romantic aesthetics to synth austerity and elegant arrangements. Their full sound was more complex than their peers and more sinister by a long shot. Recently, Sylvian has also collaborated with aritsts like Fennesz and covered acts like Blonde Redhead with stunning vocal clarity.
Scotland’s Simple Minds were another band not included in this documentary, probably because they are more associated with the New Wave movement, but like labelmates the Human League, they’re example of a band moving from experimental work to pop success. Their work became increasing U2-like and less electronic, but this track captures them at the peak of a rewardingly sweeping sound, with pitch-perfect production to boot.
Parts 1, 2, and 3 of the Synth Pioneers series can be found here.
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04/26/10 - 
November 18th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
(Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids) error opening file..
Also, Vimeo video doesn’t exist.
November 18th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Man, the video was working last night, they must have pulled it! switched to youtube, fixed MP3, we’re back… thanks john
November 18th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
the first few notes in computer love are in a coldplay song so yea they musta ripped that off eh?
November 18th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Anonymous-
It’s well documented, coldplay used that with permission. “Talk” is sort of known as a cover song. Life in Technicolor — the fist song on that same album — features work by synthesist Jon Hopkins: http://en.wik.../Jon_Hopkins
November 18th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Such a cool documentary. Thanks for that, Sam!
November 18th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
[...] le blog d’iso 50 [...]
November 18th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
YMO is the shit… check out their album Technodelic, it’s a bit more textured, industrial/kraut influenced stuff – more interesting then the straight up synth stuff i think
two tracks from the album up here:
http://www.pi...n.com/?p=221
November 18th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Early Simple Minds (very electro) and early Japan (kind of glam rock) both rule.
November 18th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Very good.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
[...] Synth Britannia from the fabulous ISO 50 [...]
November 18th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Gah, Part 9/9 seems to be missing.
November 18th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
that kraftwerk song just blew my mind
November 19th, 2009 at 8:54 am
John spits the truth. Yellow Magic Orchestra is totally swingin’ doors!! so glad I got a taste of this shit to start off my day
November 19th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
There is a Depeche Mode song, off Violator I think, that seems to have ripped off the Kraftwerk song. Or maybe they were just “inspired” by Kraftwerk.
November 19th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Great stuff. Kinda ironic, we were just discussing a kraftwerk album this week in my history of graphic design course, the man machine album and how it references El Lissitzky.
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:45 am
there’s also a great BBC4 docu. about krautrock :
http://www.yo...=3B89-69icyc
If you are interested in the pioneers of synths check
the re-release of BERNARD SZAJNER : SOME DEATHS TAKE FOREVER (1980)
it’s released on cd for the first time on LTM records a few weeks back
BTW Mr Szajner is the man who has build that light-harp-synth-thing for J-M-Jarre (remember live in Houston?) and this album is one of Carl Craig favourite records of all time, that should do it
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:48 am
sorry the reissue is on Boutique http://www.di...ease/1732383
November 24th, 2009 at 4:58 am
Have you heard Flur’s solo album?