I’m only 20, but I’m absolutely fanatic about new wave music: Depeche Mode(!!!), The Cure, John Foxx, Kraftwerk, Ultravox, AFOS, Alphaville, OMD, Pet Shop Boys, Thomas Dolby, and my all time favourite Gary Numan.
Unfortunately, this incredibly creative sound has been replaced by loud, grating distored guitars and singers who prefer to yell.
So I’m hoping (praying) that there are still a few groups out there keeping this new wave sound alive…any suggestions?
(PS. I’m already familiar with The Sounds, Miss Kitten & The Hackerk, Ladytron, and The Postal Service.)
There are tons of German and Scandinavian groups still doing their best to sound exactly like early Depeche Mode. Elegant Machinery and KieTheVez are two of the more talented groups–I believe they both come from Sweden.
Other suggestions: Wolfsheim, Covenant, Apoptygma Berzerk.
Moving more into electro styles I really like an artist called Legowelt, from the Netherlands. It’s a bit like a darker, heavier Kraftwerk.
I can offer up more suggestions if you’d like, but a lot of this stuff is obscure even in Europe, and might be difficult or impossible to find in Canada.
Also, check out the selection at A Different Drum Records, THE premier synthpop label/store in the world. They have a cd set called The Synthpop Starters Kit that contains about 8-10 cd’s that can get you started in fandom of modern synthpop.
Any more questions or suggestions, email me. I can probably burn you a compilation of stuff you might like.
I am pretty big into the music that you have mentioned. So much so, that people feel inclined to tell me about new groups “I simply will love”. Almost always, I hate what they play for me. Usually I think it’s because it’s a band (who, ahem wasn’t even cognisant during the 80’s!) who just hasn’t captured that je ne c’est quois of new wave. Personally I would rather listen to the original stuff than pale imitations. There is an ocean load of bands form the 80’s that I am just now discovering!
That said, the ONE band that has impressed me with their new wave feel is Ova Looven. They are a new band so they may be hard to track down. They capture the feel so well that my pals wonder who this band is - they think it really is an old disc that I have.
Three bands that I can recommend to you which are not new-wave but I think you will really like, seeing as we seemingly have the same taste:
On. Ken Andrews is highly influenced by bands such as the Cars. Their album “Shifting Skin” is simply awesome.
National Skyline. wow. enough said.
Chroma Key. The album “you go now” is really good stuff.
A lot of people use those words when describing The Faint.
I’m not up to describing them myself, so:
“Already a contender for album of the year, Nebraska’s The Faint’s dark and richly decadent UK debut, Danse Macabre, reeks of excess. Summoning the spirits of Depeche Mode and Human League and lacing them with the exquisite pop sensibility of early Duran Duran, The Faint drive a ferocious synth-led sound.” (The BBC.)
Yes yes, The Human League is, of course, another great 80s band.
gex gex: Yes, I know what you mean about recommendations that don’t really pan out. I didn’t want to say anything in this thread about that fact. And yes, there are tons of great 80s bands that I keep coming across. Its just great.
I seriously recommend Interpol. They’re not electronic, but great. Influenced by The Cure and The Smiths, if you’re willing to stretch a bit.
If you want electro, check out Tiga (esp. his DJ Kicks CD) and Felix Da Housecat. Tiga’s from Montreal, I think.
The Postal Service is great. If you want stuff like that, but less poppy and emo, check out “Life Is Full Of Possibilities” by DNTEL. He’s the electronic half of TPS. Along that vein I’d also suggest Four Tet, which is darker and glitchier.
It is a mostly crap-filled genre, but I have to say that the Miss Kittin & The Hacker disc blew me away. Terrific Eurotrash minimalism. And Adult. (<-- mind the period at the end of the name) does some great freakish, harsh electronic stuff. Definitely not for everyone, but I liked it. I’m trying to think of any other acts that’d I recommend, but it’s not easy. Fischerspooner is famous (relatively speaking) but the talent just isn’t there, even if they did do a good version of Wire’s The 15th. You know when the best song on a disc is a cover that the band might be lacking a certain something. Ladytron is interesting, but they don’t seem to fit the mold all that well and their material is inconsistent. Add N to X is a great analog electronic band, but I don’t know if they’re considered electroclash. If they are, I endorse them heartily.
Umm… ok, that sound you hear is the bottom of the barrel being scraped. Ok, everthing else is pretty much crap. That should do it.
I’ve only heard two songs by Miss Kitten & The Hacker and they were like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. It sounds like she’s reading bad poetry with a bad accent and a slight learning deficiency. I’ve always hated that vocal style and she personifies it.
The list is pretty good so far. Iwould second the votes for Interpol (I’m going to see them at the Warfield in Sept. They’re amazing live.), the Faint, and Ladytron and I would add:
Broadcast
Client
Chicks on Speed
Add N to (X)
Adult.
Stereolab
but most especially,
EVERYONE PAY ATTENTION!!! IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT YOU ALL GO OUT IMMEDIATELY AND BUY -
Neon Golden by The Notwist
Seriously, I think it’s the best electropop album to come out in a very, very long time. Totally worth every penny. As are their concert tickets if they happen to come through the US again any time soon.
