Cherry Red's
Electrical Language and the Close to the Noise Floor compilations explored early synth pop and experimental electronic music by region, mixing breakthrough chart hits with cult favorites and private press obscurities. The Musik Music Musique series charts the development of electronic pop throughout the 1980s, with the second volume, subtitled
1981: The Rise of Synth Pop, following a set focusing on the first year of the decade. Like the other compilations, this one is vast and sprawling yet nowhere near definitive, merely hinting at the abundance of creativity during the era. The set includes a few recognizable hits, such as
Heaven 17's rousing "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" and
Aneka's chart-topping "Japanese Boy," as well as enduring club classics like
Gina X Performance's saucy "No G.D.M." (a re-released single that originally appeared on their 1978 debut) and
Yello's heavily sampled/remixed "Bostich." Larger-than-life acts like
Duran Duran and
Tears for Fears are represented by early singles and deep cuts (
Duran Duran's "Khanada" was actually the B-side to their second single), and other iconic groups such as
A Flock of Seagulls and
Spandau Ballet are presented in rougher form than the era-defining hits they'd have just a year or two later, demonstrating post-punk's influence on popular music. The non-geographical focus means that in addition to numerous U.K. acts, there's also room for important figures like
Devo (the perky "Through Being Cool"),
Yellow Magic Orchestra (the slick, streamlined "Cue"), and former
Tangerine Dream member
Peter Baumann (the chipper "Repeat, Repeat"). Of course, the set also includes dozens of tracks that were nowhere close to mainstream, from art pop, minimal wave, and post-industrial acts like Voice Farm, Drinking Electricity, and
Portion Control. As expected, the liner notes are extensive and informative, and the whole package paints a picture of a rapidly changing era that drastically reshaped the sound and look of popular culture. ~ Paul Simpson