― Curt, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― g, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― A Nairn, Wednesday, 13 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
it's funny how that album pops up from time to time on threads about PSB as their definite standard
I read that they're making an indie-album at the moment (Neil bought guitars, Johnny Marr 's gonna play them )
oh my god, no synths? maybe it's the last time we can mention them on a synth-thread
― erik, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Chris and Cosey produced a lot of non-dance music too. Simple Minds in the 'Sister Feelings Call' phase used syths subtly to augment guitar rock and ended up sounding like something in between.
Eno used synth really cunningly as part of the overall instrument arsenal, admittedely best on those four 'seventies pop albums, but on other stuff too.
The no-wave bands used synths as bright angry noise which fitted with the 'tacky' aesthetic -- a million miles from those 'new-romantic' would-be orchestraters, mother of a million soft-synth soundtracks, perhaps synths worst overuse along with that 'wow' affect synths provide church goers, serious 'industrial' music adolescants, new age mumbo and most worryingly, church of dance circa 2002.
The best synth use is when you can't tell it's synth, just interesting 'sound', and I guess that's all over the place, ..'keyboards'. Eno talked of 'textures' etc.. -- used properly synths can be part of the 'studio as instrument' overall approach, and maybe you can't tell just what instrument is doing what, which means you can't imagine some guitar pose, synth make-up -- let the music be somewhat faceless, mysterious.
Example: Peter Gabriel -- deft use of synth as orchestration almost saves poxy politically self-conscious post-punk 'singer-songwriter' ?
As a marketing angle in the '80s synths out front in the 'synth bands' were like some putrid day-glo advertisement for brothels -- cf: sublime Bowie/Eno on 'Low' or '70s Scott Walker. That there is a band called low (some sort of tribute/influence in their minds ?) -- them and their music maybe the dumbest angle yet in the serious music stakes.
― George Gosset, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
Simple Minds in the 'Sister Feelings Call' phase used syths subtly to augment guitar rock and ended up sounding like something in between.
Er, I thought at that point Simple Minds were using guitar subtly to augment wad and wads of wierd synthy bits!!! In fact, there's some SM stuff from the early 80s that has hardly any guitars, (eg the title track from "Sons and Facination") and the "Reel to Reel Cacophony" and "Empires and Dance" albums seem to deliberately set about deconstructing normal rock 'n' roll standards. Mind you, 'Sister Feelings Call' (Is that Cher on the cover?!?!?) was one of their more "rock" albums from that period.
Back to the original question: anyone mentioned Carabet Voltaire yet? And do those funny "new wave" video bands like The Buggles and New Musik count?
― Old Fart!!!!, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
George is right. Magazine used synths and they were fantastic. We can say the same thing about a lot of great post punk bands. But I think they're not synth pop. When Emma posted this topic she explained what kind of music she was talking about.
(Anyway, long life to Magazine, Eno, solo Pete Shelley and "synth punks" D.A.F.)
― carlos, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Dr. C, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Sean Carruthers, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― Rob M, Thursday, 14 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-two years ago) link
― hstencil, Wednesday, 5 November 2003 05:22 (twenty years ago) link
John Foxx "The Garden" is really, really great- better than Metamatic.
Alien Sex Fiend has done a few cool all-synth songs.
Camoflauge has some good stuff. Their best song I've heard, "Love is a shield", was written by Peter Godwin (ex-Metro, the obscure but supposedly amazing german glam era band that wrote Criminal life or whatever covered by Bowie on Let's Dance.) Peter Godwin has an uncommonly seen best-of comp that is really good. Look for it, it is definitely obscure and worth seeking out, since I belive he didn't make any albums, just some 12 inch EP's but it has new songs on it.
Rational Youth hasnt been mentioned. They are highly sought after and pretty obscure. I have their best album waiting at home which I got off ebay but can't get until I'm done travelling in a few months- dammit. Anyway, the band is mainly Tracy Howe, who was a founding member of the most arty-glam-version of Men Without Hats (my favorite stuff of theirs.) They are also incredible. Rythm of Youth, really classic.
Lets see what else I can remember- this is my favorite stuff!
― sucka (sucka), Wednesday, 5 November 2003 08:10 (twenty years ago) link
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PVZ2RKFKL._AA240_.jpg
^^ Bought this used yesterday, now hearing it for the first time. It's great.
― Curt1s Stephens, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 19:33 (sixteen years ago) link
Am I the only one here with an appreciation for forgotten synth duo Gee Mr Tracy? I think I have everything they put out - one album and four singles. The single collection LP is the best thing out there. Nothing on cd as far as I know. Ooh Bob Sh'Bam Lava Man
― everything, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 19:44 (sixteen years ago) link