Most of the stuff I’d mention is already listed, but I will spank anyone who lists The Smiths as synthpop with a wet plimsoll.
Who, pray tell, played keyboards in The Smiths? Nobody. They were aiming precisely at synthpop with guitar-driven tunes.
In fact the only Smiths tunes I can think with even a bloody pianoare “Golden Lights,” “Oscillate Wildly,” and “Death of a Disco Dancer.”
a-ha, however, qualifies.
Scritti Politti kicks ass. They may not be melancholy, lyrically, but Green Gartside’s voice has such a sweet wistfulness to it.
I’m (secretly) proud to admit that I know (I was a teen during the 80s) about 3/4 of the songs listed here. Some of them include my all time favorites. for the rest of the 1/4, gotta do some looking up and listening. Ahhh, the 80s!
“Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me.”