Song In My Head

Simple Minds' sublime instrumental "Somebody Up There Likes You" from 1982's New Gold Dream. It's a perfect respite between harder driving (and better-known) songs like "Promised You a Miracle" and "New Gold Dream". I just got the somewhat misleadingly titled X5 collection (it's actually the first six studio albums if you separate Sons and Fascination from Sister Feelings Call, as was originally intended) and I'm enjoying it immensely. Before John Hughes movie "The Breakfast Club" pigeonholed them, Simple Minds were an interesting and artistic band.

Song In My Head

Today it's "The Metro" by Berlin -- I can't get this synth-pop gem out of my head today for some reason. I'm not sure when I first heard this track -- I'm sure I was pretty young -- but I remember instantly liking it. And the video as well. And despite the worldwide success of Berlin's "Take My Breath Away", it's this song that remains Berlin's signature achievement in my mind. And if that statement sounds funny -- and I'll admit, it does -- don't take it from me: Take it from John Frusciante and System of a Down.

Back to the Phuture

It's been a long time since we've posted here. Too long. So tonight, I want to report on the slick new magazine I picked up recently. It's a brand new magazine called electronic (with a lower-case e) and it's from England (of course). And while Underworld are featured on the cover, the inside is full of great features on seminal electronic and new wave bands from the late 70s and early 80s. Among them: Can, Gary Numan, the Human League, and Kraftwerk. And there's even a 14-track CD included, with some real electronic gems. And that's mainly what I want to share with you in this post.

Here's the track listing, and my thoughts:
1) Roxy Music - "Ladytron"
I can't say enough about Roxy Music. They took art-rock and glam and introduced synths and really laid the foundation for everything that came later. This track's a bit romantic with a definite early 70s vibe, but you can hear the future in it.

2) Can - "I Want More"
Totally infectious and danceable track from the hugely influential Krautrock jam band superstars. The keyboard riff is what sticks in your head, but that shaky guitar line that starts the song and carries throughout is really very cool. And the fact that they found lead singer Damo Suzuki busking on the street on the day of a gig and invited him to join the band on the spot has to rank as one of the best stories in rock music. Did you know the Fall has a song called "I Am Damo Suzuki"?

3) The Normal - "TVOD"
The first label release for Mute records back in 1978. This minimalist J.G. Ballard-inspired track looks and sounds quaint now, but portrays what - at the time - felt like something bleak and futuristic.

4) Cabaret Voltaire - "Nag Nag Nag"
Strip away all the electronics and you basically have a pretty solid punk song. In the late 70s, they often shared the bill with Joy Division -- what a show that must have been.

5) OMD - "Electricity"
I've always been a huge fan of this song. And now I know why: Martin Hannett's production. Listen to the drums and you can hear Joy Division or early New Order. The other reason I like this track is because -- unlike so much of the genre -- it's idealistic and warm.

6) Fad Gadget - "Ricky's Hand"
I didn't really know Fad Gadget -- the magazine even refers to him as a "criminally overlooked synth maverick" who "didn't get the recognition he deserved." This track is about drinking, driving and mutilation. It's a bit of its time -- perhaps not as much as "TVOD" -- but I do appreciate the synth sounds Frank Tovey aka Fad Gadget achieves here, given the limitations of the technology of the era.

7) Devo - "Whip It"
The most commercially accessible song on the compilation. And since everyone knows it inside and out, I don't feel like I need to say anything more about it.

8) Simple Minds - "I Travel"
This is a tremendous track that I wrote about in an earlier post. Before Simple Minds tried to conquer America with "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and other arena rock tripe, they were artsy and inventive. And back in 1980, this was the lead-off track to Simple Minds' third album Empires and Dance. And yet, Jim Kerr's familiar yelp is there -- as is the very predictable (and very satisfying) chord structure of the chorus. Their next album was actually two separate releases now considered one -- Sons and Fascination/Sister Feelings Call and it featured the terrific "70 Cities As Love Brings the Fall". And then came one of my favorite records of all time New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84 which was a commercial success in the UK and across Europe with singles like "Promised You a Miracle" and "Glittering Prize" and "Someone Somewhere in Summertime" -- all songs of my youth.

9) The Human League - "Marianne"
The magazine has a whole feature on the making of the Human League's breakthrough Dare album -- that's the one with "Don't You Want Me" on it. And it recounts the story of Phil Oakey finding teenage backup singers Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley and totally reshaping what was a dark, avant-garde synth outfit into a pop juggernaut that would take over the world.

10) Japan - "Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
This new romantic band was a big influence on Duran Duran, as you can kind of hear in this 1980 track. They're already hitting the fashion themes ... now add some more brash vocals and a chunky Nile Rodgers bass, and you're getting very close.

11) Ultravox - "Mr X"
A slick, minimalist piece that marked the arrival of Midge Ure as Ultravox lead singer. A bit too ethereal and detached for my tastes.

12) Heaven 17 - "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang"
This song is a response to the Thatcherism that was taking hold in Britain in the early 80s and the rise of Ronald Reagan in this country. And it's overtly political -- and was banned by BBC Radio 1. Check out the cover by the Red Hot Chili Peppers version, which they played on tour in Heaven 17's hometown of Sheffield.

13) Yazoo - "Situation"
This is the extended remix of the very familiar song by the band -- Vince Clark and Alison Moyet -- known as Yaz here in the States. I think it's safe to say that Vince Clark -- whether it as a member of Depeche Mode, Yaz or Erasure -- is responsible for some of the best synth pop ever written.

14) Nitzer Ebb - "Join In the Chant"
One of the weaker tracks, and for me one that doesn't stand the test of time. I always preferred the later Nitzer Ebb track "Family Man".