SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – MUSIK MUSIC MUSIQUE 1979 – THE ROOTS OF SYNTHPOP

VARIOUS ARTISTS
MUSIK MUSIC MUSIQUE 1979 – THE ROOTS OF SYNTHPOP
CHERRY RED RECORDS

The punk explosion of 1976 sent shock waves across the music world. One may not think of punk and electronic music, but there was a connection. A number of these artists/bands in this brilliant compilation, Musik Music Musique 1979 – The Roots of Synthpop, talk of the impact of punk and the ‘DIY sensibility of making music. Major labels were not needed, as evidenced by the number of independent artists on this collection, and musicians did not have to spend hours mastering their craft. One simply had to push the correct buttons in the correct sequence. Perhaps I am oversimplifying things, but punk was the catalyst for the eventual explosion of synthpop.

As the title indicates, Musik Music Musique 1979 – The Roots of Synthpop focuses on 1979 when the synthesizer went from a prog rock (or German Avant Garde) instrument into creating mainstream music. The three CDs are jammed with what are now considered pioneering and classic modern rock tracks. While this set contains some hits from that time (Gary Numan “Cars”) Musik Music Musique 1979 – The Roots of Synthpop features bands and songs that may not be familiar to a wide audience. The Human League here are included, but “Don’t You Want Me” is still a couple of years away, so a seldom heard classic, “Blind Youth” is included while The Buggles are represented by the wonderful “Technopop,” and Bruce Wooley and The Camera Club are heard singing their version of “Video Killed The Radio Star” (which Wooley co-wrote with Buggles’ Trevor Horn).

Lesser known/remembered but important artists are included to present a very complete picture. Bands such as Telex (with their incredible “Rock Around The Clock”), Hammer, and Cuddly Toys (to name just three), remind listeners that although the songs had less of a commercial impact, many artists were listening and carried forward their music into the world of synthpop. The music may sound bare and perhaps out of date, but all of the songs are interesting, and it is fascinating to hear the origins of a music that would dominate world charts during the 1980s and turn into house, dance, EDM and other forms of popular music. But one can listen to Dollar, which is more pop than synth, and hear the influence they would have in the years ahead.

Musik Music Musique 1979 – The Roots of Synthpop is a brilliant and important compilation. It fills in the gap between punk/New Wave and the synth revolution that would take place in the 1980s, that continues to this day. While there were a great many synth bands/artists out of Germany and Europe in the 1970s and even the odd hit (“Popcorn” by Hot Butter in 1972 was a synth-based song), and even Paul McCartney had a major hit that was synth-based, “With A Little Luck,” in 1978, this box set lays out the background and foundation of a genre of music that has only grown and splintered off into other forms of music. Musik Music Musique 1979 – The Roots of Synthpop is well put together and well researched. It is highly recommended for music fans who weren’t around at the time to experience the excitement.

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