Electro-Punk/Synth-Pop

Last week I posted some minimal wave tracks. This week I am posting 3 tracks that could be seen as

predecessors to that sound. It could be said that the 70's punk movement was partly pushed into motion by

a decrease in the cost of music equipment at that time. With

prices down, suddenly there was a whole

crowd of people who had access to this equipment, but had no musical training. They set up bands and

created a gritty,unpolished new sound.

In the early 80's a similar thing happened with synthesizers.

The punk aesthetic was still in fashion, and as a result, some

early synth experimental bands had a strong

punk flavor.

Suicide Commando by a band called No More, was recorded

in 1981. This song is an example of a punk

band introducing synthesizers into their gear. Vitalic recently

covered the song in an updated electo-clash

style, which you could also find on youtube:

The next song is a really catchy track that I simply can't get enough of. I guess the Severed Heads could be seen as the predecessors of the post industrial groups like Skinny Puppy or Nine Inch Nails... This song from 1984, Dead Eyes Opened, shows a merging of an industrial sound with synth-pop:

Lastly one of my favorite tracks from Chris And Cosey called Walking Through Heaven. When Throbbing Gristle disbanded each of it's members went on to different side projects. Genesis created Psychic TV, an experimental psychedelic pop band. Sleazy went on to form Coil, an electronic experimental, pagan sort of project. Chris and Cosey grouped together and created an experimental synth pop sound that was unique and influential for techno and all sorts of electronic based music. The two of them have started a new project called Carter Tutti, which is a more electronic/folk/ambient project focusing on Cosey's beautiful vocals. This track from the album Songs Of Love & Lust (originally released in 1984) is simply great...it's like a warm synth blanket of sound: