Synth Pop. A term as derided as it is celebrated. Depending on the person it can induce images of big hair and even bigger shoulder pads, or moody duos stood expressionless on a stage being so very ‘serious’ and arty. Synth Pop hardly ever gets mentioned with the same reverence as its sibling Post-Punk yet it is every bit as rich and diverse. Songs range from the romantically new to the scanning under the bedsit beds. Synth Pop can be the glamorous or the threatening and can cover artists as varied as Gary Numan, to Yazoo via Throbbing Gristle all of which are the descendants of Bowie and Iggy’s Berlin residency and the scripture that was Kraftwerk’s The Man-Machine which was released in 1978 and was, until that point, the German innovators warmest and most accessible album to date.
All The Young Droids: Junkyard Synth Pop 1979 – 1985 attempts to shine a light on this often misunderstood genre and bring to public conscience songs and artists that bubbled under the surface of the period, created by the DIY tech heads. The lovers of the melodic machines. Newly remastered, the 24 songs here cover the whole gamut of Synth Pop unveiling hidden gems and, one has to admit, cliched stereotypes. The songs travel from the inspired to the insipid and whilst there are a few moments where the music is prime evidence for the genre’s detractors, overall this compilation does an excellent job of showcasing all of the heart, wit and creativity of the Synth Pop clan.
A key component to understanding this compilation is for the listener to focus on the Pop element of the genre. This is potentially why Synth Pop gets overlooked but to do so would be falling into the trap of not respecting the craft that goes into a well written pop song. Selwyn Image’s ‘The Unknown’ is a prime example of this. The song is insanely catchy and memorable. It is as if The Monkees got their hands on the future and created a three-minute motorik opus that you could actually imagine being released in the 2000’s (with a slight upgrade) and it being a hit.
The other side of the song can be found via Gerry & The Holograms self titled single which would be hilariously funny if it wasn’t so insidious and trippy (avoid this song if you’re deep into a herbal remedy session). This song represents the more experimental side yet it still has a melody that you can hum and be addicted to. Representing the sillier side of things is the, quite frankly, awful John Howard’s ‘I Tune Into You’ which is every genre cliché writ large and presented with a shit-eating grin whilst wearing a pastel shirt. Anyone who grew up through the Eighties will feel their toes curl about one minute in. Imagine Sparks without any of the innovation, wit, warmth or intelligence. I have no doubt it would have been a massive hit and I can sadly see in my mind’s eye the crowd of painted on smiles dancers shuffling to it on Top Of The Pops. Thankfully then this pop-gak is soon washed away by the deep shuffle of Ian North’s ‘We’re Not Lonely’ which lives in the same shadows as Japan. ‘We’re Not Lonely’ is pure mood and atmosphere and part of the lineage from Synth Pop to Goth. Other highlights include the Disco-leaning ‘The Ultimate Warlord’ by The Warlord which is tongue in cheek fun and contains enough charm to draw you in, the Heaven 17-like ‘Lucifer’s Friend’ by Vision and the whimsical yet creepy ‘I Am A Time Bomb’ by Peta Lily & Michael Process which is as if a working class version of Kate Bush existed and was recording songs in the basement of her local discotheque.
Like all compilations, All The Young Droids has its hits and its misses however what it achieves with great aplomb is its mission to truly highlight the sheer diversity of a genre. It also helps focus us in on the DIY aspect of it all as not much here sounds glossy and polished (the songs that do are often the worst). The compilation is broad in range and curated with an obvious passion by Philip King which makes it a truly interesting and essential artifact. You may find ammunition for your anti-Synth Pop beliefs but you may also find your new favourite song. Turn the lights down low, turn off your phone and allow yourself to travel back in time on a wave of tape loops and soldering iron.
Released through Night School Records Glasgow: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Review by Simon Tucker
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