The Age Of Plastic＜限定盤＞

The fun, quirky single "Video Killed the Radio Star" garnered The Buggles international attention in 1980, but it was just one of The Age of Plastic's fascinating, futuristic visions. From the title track's opening strains, Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes transform your living room into a world of Jetson-like proportions. It's a world, though, where technology is seen for what it is -- full of both promise and frightening implications. On "I Love You Miss Robot," a metaphorical love affair with a robot explores modern man's relationship to, and dependence on, technology. "Kid Dynamo"'s spirited tempo, biting lyrics, and menacing vocal track questions the loss of imagination plaguing the mass media age. For the most part, The Age of Plastic is a fun record that doesn't need to be taken too seriously, though a subtle sense of loss is woven throughout. Variety is the constant and tracks vary from the giddy "Video," to the dark and pulsating "Johnny on the Monorail.." The vision here is so beautifully articulated that the superb musicianship and production wizardry is easily overlooked. Paradoxically, Horn and Downes employed electronic devices (which were considered new and cutting edge in the late seventies) to create an album which, at times, spoke eloquently about their drawbacks. With The Age of Plastic, Horn and Downes stamped an indelible image in the collective pop psyche. What is equally impressive is the sound of this disc given its analog origins and 1980-release date. While hiss can be heard in some of the quieter passages, it would be difficult to find a record from this era that sounds half as good. Pop rarely reaches these heights. ~ Jeri Montesano|

トレヴァー・ホーンによるテクノ・ポップ・デュオの記念すべき1st。 なんといっても、全英チャート１位の「Video Killed The Radio Star（邦題：ラジオスターの悲劇）」が有名。 非の打ち所のない完璧なポップチューンです。トレヴァーによるベースラインもカッコイイ。 MTV開局時の一曲目に流れたのが、まさにこの「Video Killed The Radio Star」の プロモビデオだったのは今考えると象徴的な事実。 胸キュンもの「Elstree」、疾走感溢れる「Clean, Clean」など他にも名曲満載。 2nd「Adventure In Modern Recording」も当時最新鋭のサンプリングマシーン、 フェアライトCMIを駆使したモダンチューン満載でオススメなので是非。 (C)YKYM