The Pop Thread

Sparks - "№ 1 in Heaven" (1979)

The eighth full-length from this Los Angeles pop act sees them championing a sound that combines electro, disco & pop for a result that comes across as very European. In fact, I'd suggest that it possesses a bit of a Eurovision Song Contest vibe which can't be a good thing as a lot of the album is simply too cheesy for my lactose-intolerant ears to cope with. 

For fans of Kraftwerk, Gina X Performance & Explorer.

2.5/5

Pet Shop Boys - "Introspective" (1988)

I struggled with the third & most widely celebrated full-length from these London synthpop legends to be honest as it was simply far too fruity for my taste. I actually think this record is more of a dance-pop release than it is synthpop as it was clearly heavily influenced by the underground house & Hi-NRG music the duo were hearing in the UK gay clubs of the time. "Introspective" served as a major gateway release into dance music for a lot of people for that reason. I have to admit that I have a soft spot for the cover version of "Always On My Mind" but found the rest of the album a little hard to stomach.

For fans of Erasure, Electronic & Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.

3/5

Tubeway Army - "Replicas" (1979)

The debut album from a London act fronted by the legendary Gary Numan who would release his first solo album later the same year. I would describe the sound of "Replicas" as new wave-infused synthpop with Numan dominating through a charismatic performance behind the microphone. The influences of David Bowie, Kraftwerk & the "Blade Runner" soundtrack are all obvious. The highlights are absolutely sublime (see "Are 'Friends' Electric?" & "Down in the Park" in particular) but the tracklisting is very inconsistent & fades noticeably at the end. Despite that, I do feel that the best material is strong enough to carry this record.

For fans of Gary Numan, Ultravox & The Human League.

3.5/5

Lewis - "L'Amour" (1983)

The debut album from this Canadian Singer/songwriter is a deep, minimal, introspective & synth-laden ambient pop record that's perfect for relaxing by yourself with a book & a glass of wine. I've quite enjoyed it, even though there are some parts that sound a little dated due to the synthesizer sounds employed.

For fans of Nick Drake, Arthur Russell & "Nebraska"-period Bruce Springsteen.

3.5/5

I just checked out the new album by a band that's typically very underwhelimng: Everyone's a Star by 5 Seconds of Summer.  I don't like these guys very much, but this... this was kinda bangin'.  Among typical songwriting structures and lyrics came some very clever production, mixing and percussion techniques that brought an art to the electronic saturation.  Every song was very different, yet the instruments used kept a consistent flow.  Through this, these guys were able to channel a wide array of pop influences and remain quite catchy, which seem to include Radiohead, Gorillaz, better Coldplay and a little Weeknd on the side.  This is the first of their albums I legitimately liked.

76/100

Gary Numan - "The Pleasure Principle" (1979)

I quite enjoyed the 1979 "Replicas" debut album from London new wave outfit Tubeway Army recently so I thought I'd give front man Gary Numan's first solo effort from later the same year a crack this week & I've found it to offer a similar (perhaps slightly greater) level of enjoyment. The early synth sounds somehow seem to be both dated & timeless at the same time while I really dig Numan's vocals which provide the perfect accompaniment for the spacy instrumentation. I've found myself becoming increasingly interested in these old synthpop sounds of late. There's something refreshingly authentic in their simplicity & creativity.

For fans of Kraftwerk, Ultravox & The Human League.

3.5/5