Musik Music Musique 1979: The Roots Of Synth Pop (Clamshell Box)

Backtracking a bit from previously issued volumes of the series, Musik Music Musique 1979: The Roots of Synth Pop functions as a sort of prequel, mapping out the blueprint of the new wave revolution of the 80s, from synth-heavy post-punk and art rock to some of synth pops earliest chart-toppers. Its not as if electronic instruments werent prominent in popular music before 1979, but synthesizers were clearly well on their way to being a defining characteristic of the musical landscape. The set starts with the Buggles "Technopop," proposing a name for the music of the future -- Kraftwerk would later give a song a similar title on 1986s Electric Cafe, which originally had the working title Techno Pop as well, and decades later, a reissue retroactively bore the title. "Video Killed the Radio Star" also appears on the collection, but not the Buggles MTV-launching hit version -- instead, its a less polished recording by the songs co-writer, Bruce Woolley, which was released around the same time and featured Thomas Dolby on keyboards. The sets compilers similarly include deep cuts by well-known acts and hitmakers like Yello, the Cars, Devo, M, and the Korgis, giving different perspectives on what was happening beyond the mainstream radio airwaves. Gary Numan is represented by both of his U.K. number one singles, and Secret Services "Oh Susie" topped the charts in the groups native Sweden, but otherwise the set largely avoids proper hits. There are a few underground classics (Suicides "Dream Baby Dream," Dark Days "Hands in the Dark") as well as album cuts and B-sides from genre-defining acts like the Human League and OMD. There are also tracks that arrive at synth pop from different angles, be it disco (Giorgio Moroder), fusion (Jan Hammer), Krautrock (La Dusseldorf), art-punk (short-lived Swell Maps side project Metrophase), and prog (Steve Hillage). Perhaps most amusing are the deconstructed rock covers included throughout the set, from early Mute project Silicon Teens perky take on Chuck Berrys "Memphis Tennessee" to a truly warped and zonked-out "All You Need Is Love" taken from a cassette by Manchesters Instant Automatons. Other curiosities include the Residents-esque satirical weirdness of Blah Blah Blahs "In the Army," an alternate version of the eponymous minimal synth classic "Gerry and the Holograms" which adds a drum track, and the glimmering space exploration "Mirror of Infinity" by Moebius -- not Dieter Moebius of Cluster, but an obscure trio featuring new age/ambient pioneer Steve Roach. Another wide-ranging treasure trove of goodies and fascinating oddities from the team at Cherry Red, shedding light on what was happening when musicians were truly beginning to embrace technology. ~ Paul Simpson