Synth-pop is a music genre that first became prominent in the late 1970s and features the synthesizer as the dominant musical instrument. It was prefigured in the 1960s and early 1970s by the use of synthesizers in progressive rock, electronic, art rock, disco, and particularly the Krautrock of bands like Kraftwerk. It arose as a distinct genre in Japan and the United Kingdom in the post-punk era as part of the new wave movement of the late 1970s.
Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands of the 1980s, and attained international chart success as part of the Second British Invasion.
Ozric Tentacles are an English instrumental rock band, whose music incorporates elements from a diverse range of genres, including psychedelic rock, progressive rock, space rock, jazz fusion, electronic music, dub music, world music, and ambient music. Formed in Somerset in 1983, the band has released over 30 albums selling over a million copies worldwide despite never having signed to a major recording label. Throughout many line-up changes over the years, co-founder and guitarist Ed Wynne has remained the only original member of the band. The band is now credited as one of the major influences of the UK festival scene's re-emergence, becoming particularly associated with the Glastonbury Festival and their handmade series of cassette releases, mostly sold at gigs and through a fan club.
Real Life are an Australian new wave and synth-pop band that achieved international chart success with their 1983 singles "Send Me an Angel" and "Catch Me I'm Falling", both of which were taken from their debut studio album, Heartland (1983). The band originally consisted of David Sterry, Richard Zatorski, Allan Johnson (bass), and Danny Simcic (drums). Steve Williams (keyboards) replaced Zatorski in 1986, and was replaced by George Pappas in 1995 after a long hiatus of band activity.
The Time, also known as Morris Day and the Time and The Original 7ven, is an American funk rock band founded in Minneapolis in 1973. They contributed to the development of the Minneapolis sound, an eclectic fusion of funk, R&B, new wave, synth-pop and dance. Led by singer-songwriter Morris Day the band members are known for having been close associates of musician Prince, and are arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him, achieving success with singles such as "Get It Up", "The Bird", "Cool", "777-9311", "Jungle Love" and "Jerk Out".
"Skin Trade" is a song by the English pop rock band Duran Duran, released in January 1987 as the second single from their fourth studio album, Notorious (1986). It showcased a drastic change from their previous singles, with R&B influences, brass solos and funk guitar riffs, in addition to a Prince-style falsetto from lead vocalist Simon Le Bon.
"New Life" is the second single by English electronic music band Depeche Mode from their debut studio album Speak & Spell, originally released on 5 June 1981. It was not commercially released in the United States.
"Leave in Silence" is a song by English electronic music band Depeche Mode. It was released as the third single from their second studio album, A Broken Frame (1982), on 16 August 1982. Recorded at Blackwing Studios, the single became the band's fifth UK Top 20 hit, peaking at number 18. It was the first Depeche Mode single in the UK to use the "Bong" catalogue number system, which they used until "Heaven" in 2013. Three versions of the track were released on the 7″ and 12″ singles, while a fourth cut, running at four minutes and fifty-one seconds, was released on A Broken Frame.
"You Surround Me" is a song by English synth-pop duo Erasure that was issued in November 1989 by Mute Records as the second single from the band's fourth studio album, Wild! (1989). Written by the duo's Vince Clarke and Andy Bell, it is a heavily synthesized ballad with a dramatic chorus featuring Bell's falsetto. Clarke has stated that this song was his attempt at writing a James Bond film theme. Upon release, "You Surround Me" became Erasure's tenth consecutive top 20 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at #15. It reached #10 on the Irish singles chart, and became a top 40 hit in Germany, where it reached #38. The song was not released as a single in the United States.
"Shout" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released as the second single from their second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), on 23 November 1984. Roland Orzabal is the lead singer on the track, and he described it as "a simple song about protest". The single became the group's fourth top 5 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 4 in January 1985. In the US, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3 August 1985 and remained there for three weeks; also topping the Cash Box chart. "Shout" became one of the most successful songs of 1985, eventually reaching No. 1 in multiple countries.
Go West Young Man is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Michael W. Smith, released on October 1, 1990, through Reunion. This record was his first attempt at mainstream success. It was successful, as it scored a Billboard Hot 100 top ten hit with "Place in This World", which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1991.
Swirly Termination is a compilation album of previously unreleased material by British band Ozric Tentacles. It was initially released in 2000 on Madfish. The band had earlier fallen out with the label and as such had no involvement with the album's title, artwork, or promotion.
Pyramidion is a 5 track EP by English band Ozric Tentacles. It was initially released in 2001 on Stretchy Records, and later re-issued on Snapper.
The Hidden Step is the ninth studio album by English band Ozric Tentacles. It was released in 2000 on Stretchy Records. It was their last to fully include bassist Zia Geelani and drummer "Rad". It was also their first not to feature a cover by the artist Blim; the cover art, by guitarist Ed Wynne, features his cat Pixel.
Waterfall Cities is the eighth studio album by English band Ozric Tentacles. It was initially released in 1999 on Stretchy Records. A remastered version was also released in 2020 on Kscope.
Curious Corn is the seventh studio album by English band Ozric Tentacles. It was initially released in 1997 on Madfish. A remastered version was also released in 2020 on Kscope.
Black Moth Super Rainbow is an American psychedelic electronic indie rock project from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US. BMSR is a solo music project created by Thomas Fec, who is also known as Tobacco. Fec writes, records, and produces the work of BMSR independently. In live performances, it features members Tobacco whose vocals are altered via a vocoder, synth players The Seven Fields of Aphelion and Pony Diver, drummer Iffernaut, and bassist STV SLV.
Spice Doubt is a "live-in-the-studio" album by English band Ozric Tentacles. The initial limited-edition release in 1998 featured an unusual plastic covering around the case, containing oil and 2 plastic fish floating inside. It was re-released in 2003 as a digipak CD, but without the green covering.
Steve Smith is an English singer and musician, best known as the vocalist for the Grammy award winning house music group Dirty Vegas and as the percussionist for the new wave band Squeeze. He has recorded albums and played concerts for American rock band Portugal the Man since 2008.
The Now Now is the sixth studio album recorded by the British virtual band Gorillaz, released on 29 June 2018 via Parlophone and Warner Bros. Records. Recording for the album began in late 2017 – according to Gorillaz co-creator Damon Albarn, it was recorded quickly so the band would have new material to play at future concerts.
