Synth Britannia

BBC 4 did a recent programme on the influence of Synth music in the early 1980s and this got me thinking on how far this genre of music has come and the profound influence it has had not only on performing groups and artisites but also DJs and production of music.

When the mass production of digital equipment hit the market from Japan (in particular the Yamaha DX7) a flood of synth based acts hit the UK charts like no-one before. Although heavilly criticised by the more musically traditional based acts, this type of music went on to survive but evolve and very much keep the theme of digital music going.

Most synth bands had grown out of the new wave era and the pioneers of this in the uk where a combination of synth and electronic rocked were Throbbing Gristle and Cabaret Volataire. However, there were earlier signs in the 1970s where the germans influenced Kraftwerk hit the market and along with David Bowie 1970s berlin recordings and Giorgio Miroders electro disco beat for Donna Summer that inspired the new pretenders to the crown.

Once people got to grips with it and all it could do, the public were the next to undertake the challenge. The mainstream audience was going to be difficult as most radio stations stuck to traditional sounds but one who was to take the challenge was Gary Numan, with his bleak look and mesmerising stare he unleashed Are Friends electric and Cars to great success. Numan was certainly not alone in that cold wave vocal style.

Although Sheffield was one of the hotspots of Synth music with Cabaret Voltaire breaking the mould, It was an up and coming band that hit the mainstream who were the Human League. Although a bit of colour was added with the backing vocal talents of Jo and Susanne they enjoyed huge success with Being Boiled and Dont you want me baby. The band split into 2 with Phil Oakey continiuing with the girls and the lads that split evolved into Heaven 17.

Another leader or major influence in this futuristic sound was John Foxx who was the original singer with Ultravox, he inspired the likes of Numan and this saw the appearance of Depeche Mode and Soft Cell onto the scene. Soft Cell had a huge hit with Tainted Love an old northern soul classic and Depeche Mode with New Life and Just cant get enough before personnel changes prompted Vince Clarke to Leave and form an other synth band Yazoo and eventually finishing with Erasure.

Also a change in production techniques lead to various bands forming and producing digital synth based sounds. The main chief was trevor Horn who enjoyed success with Yes and Buggles to produce bands such as ABC, Spandau Ballet, dollar, Frankie goes to hollywood, Art of Noise and Pet Shop Boys.

Although all different bands, the sound was very similar with sampling, strings cascading, heavy bass and multi layered vocals. As it bacame popular old punk based bands such as The Cure and New Order were producing machine driven hits which is the ultimate backhanded compliment. The list goes on with acts that have started life in the synth era such as Duran Duran, Eurythmics, Japan and Visage who all bought there own unique style of futurisitic music but sit back and enjoy the documentary.