This is electronic pop perfection.  This single was released back in 1982 on RCA records, but it was initially considered a flop.  It wasn’t until the bands’ break out hit “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” that the single shot up the charts, and ultimately landing on U.S. Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs Chart at the seven spot.

From Songfacts.com:

“The song was produced by Dave Stewart and Adam Williams and was self-financed at Eurythmics’ 8-track facility above a picture framing factory in Chalk Farm, London. They decided on a simpler arrangement than their previous singles emphasizing Annie’s vocals more. Said Lennox: “We did decide for ‘Love Is A Stranger’ that everything in it would be very clear. All that is there is seen to be there and nothing is hidden in a big mush of sound.” Stewart added: “Using our own eight track we hear a song millions of times and the melody in it is always apparent to us. We realized it might not be so obvious for people hearing the song for the first time.”"

Eurythmics – Love Is A Stranger

The best movie I’ve seen this is year, hands down, is Drive.   Not only did this capture the city of Los Angeles at night beautifully,  but it did so with a terrific story and a truly inspired soundtrack as well.  From that soundtrack we have the team up of College with a duo from  Toronto, Canada named Electric Youth.

College – A Real Hero (ft Electric Youth)

College bio:

College, from his real name David Grellier, is a French electronic music composer born in 1979 in Nantes. At the end of the 90s, he purchased his first computer, with which he realized numerous demos. Influenced by artists such as Jeff Mills, Aphex Twin and labels such as Soma Records, Peacefrog, and Warp. In April 2007, he met Anoraak and decided to create a blog to share their most recent productions: the Valerie project was born. Other artists such as The Outrunners, Maethelvin or even Russ Chimes would soon join the blog. His first Ep Teenage Color was released that same year and allowed him to meet the German illustrators The Zonders.

A collaboration started then with the latter for all the flyers related to the Valerie Parties, as well as all the records and projects which are associated to them. An identity and a musical movement evoking a kind of nostalgia from the 80s arose and the international press started to notice the productions associated with Valerie. In 2009, while his first album entitled Secret Diary was being released, College toured with Anoraak all through the biggest capitals in Europe, the United States and Australia. College also collaborated closely with the Canadian duet Electric Youth, who participated to the Ep A Real Hero, released on the Belgian label Flexx Records. In the meantime, Valerie became a real label by producing two 7inch with the support of the New-York collective Free Danger.

More from the duo: Electric Youth

Electric Youth – Right Back To You EP by Electric Youth (Official)

Loving this retro 80′s radio vibe on this track from Catcall. Smooth and soothing are the best descriptors I can think.

Catcall – Satellites

By the way, Happy Halloween!!!

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In “Erase”, you can hear the Depeche Mode and 80′s synth pop influences but there’s more too this track than just that.  Revolution 9 incorporates more modern dance pop aesthetics in “Erase” and in doing so elevates their sound to something quite special.

Revolution 9 – Erase

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Video for Erase:

From one of my all time favorite bands, I have two gems from their catalog.

Soft Cell –  Insecure Me

Soft Cell – Fun City

Fun City can be found as a B-side to their 12″ Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, and later included in the cd release of  Soft Cell – Down in the Subway on the German label Spectrum Music.

80′s nostalgic sound on “Bigger Than Us” with triumphant chorus.  White Lies sophomore album, Ritual, will be released on Jan 18th on Geffen/Fiction records.

White Lies  - Bigger Than Us

So 80′s Tron, you can’t help but smile.  Hailing from Belgium (yum beer), these four lads will transport you back via a light cycle to circa 1980.   The track has the same emphasis on the word, “Words” as does the classic 80′s track from Gary Numan, “Cars”.  Come to think of it, so did Depeche Mode’s recent single, “Wrong”.  Go figure…

Goose – Words

Fun Fact: Goose started out as a AC/DC cover band, but they quickly found their own agenda by absorbing great amount of synth into the musical system (from last.fm)

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This track takes me back to school ground break dancing sessions.  In middle school, this really amounted to kids spinning on their head or pop locking at lunch break but was always a highlight to my day in school.  You Dropped  A Bomb on Me was released back in 1982 and reached reached #2 on the Billboard R&B charts.  This is classic example of merging funk with electro.

Gap Band – You Dropped A Bomb On Me

So let me set the scence, the first person to show up to the recording studio is Michael Mcdonald, then next through the door is Toto (you know the super group from the 80′s) and the last group through the door is Daft Punk.  What does this all mean, well it means if that really did take place, I imagine the end result would sound very similar to Grum’s new release, “Through The Night”.

Grum lifts a sample from Toto’s single “We Can Make It Tonight“and pitches the vocals down to Michael Mcdonald land and then infuses enough 80′s energy to make one want to see another episode of Miama Vice and tops it off Daft Punk style.   Listen and you’ll see what i’m talking about.

Grum – Through the night

Since the first 80′s playlist went over so well with so many of you, I thought I would complie a new one for the 4th of July, enjoy!

Rob Base – It Takes Two
Men Without Hats – The Safety Dance
Human League – Don’t You Want Me
Bronski Beat – Why
Tones on Tail – Go
David Bowie – Let’s Dance
Thomas Dolby – She Blinded Me With Science
Yazoo – Don’t Go
Soft Cell – Insecure Me
Depeche Mode – Just Can’t Get Enough
New Order – Blue Monday
Duran Duran – The Chauffeur

Here are some 80′s tunes for one reason or another had an impact on me growing up and thought it would make for a fun playlist this weekend, enjoy!

Laid Back – White Horse

Herbie Hancock – Rockit

Eddy Grant – Electric Avenue

M – Pop Musik

Eurythmics – Sweet Dreams

Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Relax, Don’t Do It

Soft Cell – Sex Dwarf

Depeche Mode – (Set Me Free) Remotivate Me

Tom Tom Club – Genius of Love

Naked Eyes – Promises Promises

Tin Tin – Kiss Me

OMD – Electricity

Pet Shop Boys – West End Girls

Soft Cell – Bedsitter

Yazoo – Don’t Go

Apparently, the main melody of the Cure’s, “Close To Me” is all the rage in UK.  Two artists set to release the famed melody in their own compositions are Thomas Jules and Lady Sovereign.   I personally, am leaning toward Lady Sovereign’s use of the melody.  What do you all think?

Lady Sovereign – So Human

This track is taken from her sophomore album, “Jigsaw” which is set to release on April 6th.  BTW: You can also get another track off her upcoming album for free by visiting her myspace page here.

Thomas Jules – Get Close To Me

Thomas Jules is a soul singer/rapper from Brighton.

Vocals from Camden Chamberlain remind me alot of David Byrne of Talking Heads, which isn’t a bad thing… in fact it’s very much welcomed. And the music reminds me of 80′s band Sparks on this track.

Cavedoll

Biography:
Cavedoll is busy. In 2008, Cavedoll is releasing no less than 10 albums, consisting of a huge array of new material as well as their re-mixed, re-mastered, and re-packaged back catalogue; an eclectic assortment of styles and sounds.

Their flagship album, “No Vertigo”, consists of 14 of their best indie-pop gems, drawing on influences as diverse as 60′s Pop, Electronica, 80′s Alternative, and Modern Indie-Rock. Cavedoll’s production and vocal team of Camden and Vanessa Chamberlain adds a rich layer of harmony and impeccable style to each of the highly textural tracks, while their seasoned rhythm section of Janet Marie and Jamison Wilkins keep the beats driving along like a finely tuned muscle car. Rounding out the group is Allison Martin, providing lush and tasteful keys.

Deciding to embrace the digital age of music-listening, Cavedoll is also releasing a DATA DVD which contains Cavedoll’s entire song catalogue in MP3 format (175+ songs) as well as album artwork, photos, and videos.

Cavedoll will be spending 2008 touring the western United States as well writing and recording new material in their Salt Lake City based recording studio.

Check myspace.com/cavedollband for regular updates on tour dates, new material, and more.

Recommended for fans of: The Rapture, Interpol, Radiohead, & The Cure

Cavedoll – Decoder 

Drenched in 80′s synths and drums machines comes The Defence from Edinburgh, UK, with a sound that reminds me of the Pet Shop Boys meets The Human League.

Bio from their site:

The Band:

Keith Kerr
Vocals

Drew Cosgrove
Synthesizers

How we met:

In the summer of 1995 Drew placed an advert in the Melody Maker. Keith, who had already been in several bands, responded and our band was born. We sent our first demo to the Human League, asking if we could support them on the tour they were doing at the time. We needed a name and picked “The Defence” – because we wanted a name starting with “The” and “The Accused” sounded too much like an indie guitar band. Although we didn’t get to support the Human League a rep from Harvey Goldsmith was keen on our tunes. In 1997 we asked Heaven 17 if we could support them at their Edinburgh Fringe show. To our delight their manager called us and said we could – only for the whole thing to fall through because the Fringe organisers had already allocated support slots. We had to make do with VIP passes to the show. Ah, the cruel world of show business. It’s a hard life constantly failing to become international pop-stars. Still, spurred on by the success of Electroclash and the thrill we get from producing records we know that world domination is just around the corner.

By the way, their entire album can be downloaded from their website:

http://www.thedefence.com/html/music.html

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/thedefence

The Defence – I Want to Be Alone

Ok, so I’ve found my favorite album thus far of 2008, its Kelley Polar’s sophomore effort entitled, “I Need You to Hold on While The Sky is Falling“, which is scheduled for release March 3, 2008.

Not only is the album drenched in 80′s nostalgia such as Analog synths, appregiated synth cords, and beautiful DX-7 pad sounds, but true to the 80′s era of albums, this albums begs to be listened to from start to finish.  This is such a breath of fresh air from modern releases that sound more like a collection of singles that are just thrown together for the sake of releasing an album.  Album boarders at times as synthpop, other times gets nearer to an 80′s Prince-esque sound, and yet at other times gets closers to that New Romantic sound of ABC and Thompson Twins.

This track in particular is more inline with classic Human League sound meets Thompson Twins groove.

[audio:http://www.audiodrums.com/audio/KellyPolar_EntropyReigns(intheCelestial.mp3]

[download]

Related Post: A cut from Kelley Pollar’s first album: Ashamed of Myself

NOTE: As always, to download the songs from this site just right click on the link “download” and select “Save Link as…”

Influenced by all things 80′s, Manzur Iqbal from Manchester UK has set out to recreate 80′s themes with a twist.  Part DaftPunk, part Justice, and part pop you’ll get 80′s imagery with no problem here.

[audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/11/futurecop-transformers.mp3] 

[download] 

[myspace]

Seems to be 80′s week, so I though I might as well add this little ditty from Calvin Harris.

Calvin Harris – Acceptable in the 80s

Buy Album: I Created Disco

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1S3JCknQJ4]

80′s syths, vocoders, and a funky bass make up the core of this track.    

[audio:http://highrize.wordpress.com/files/2007/10/chromeo-needy_girl.mp3]

[download]

Buy Album: Fancy Footwork

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXuESUaESHY]