The long-overdue reissue of a classic album. Initially released on an independent Montreal-based label, this album has been out of print for years, although it was one of the largest-selling independent releases in Canada. From beginning to end, this album is brilliant, with wonderful songs played with emotion on synthesizers. Danceable, melodic, futuristic (for its time), and overall, a treat. "Close to Nature," "Saturdays in Silesia," and "Just a Sound In the Night," among others, are amazing songs, played expertly, and now on CD sounding as they were meant to be heard. Actually, there are no weak songs on the CD, and the whole package comes highly recommended.

By the time Numan had founded his Numa label, his music had already taken a decidedly more corporate rock turn; in comparison to albums like Telekon, Warriors often sounded like it was out to soundtrack any number of post-apocalyptic low-budget movies from 1983. Berserker, promising title and striking new personal image (combining white skin covering and blue highlights) aside, continued this curious trend, very much a dog's breakfast of sudden, striking ability and a surprising embrace of already shopworn clichés. If there's a specific contrast to be made, it's the difference between Numan's one-of-a-kind voice - often capturing a sense of melancholic passion better than ever - and all-too-obvious arrangements from the mid-'80s…

Most entries in the Back to Mine series allow the artists to investigate their wide but dabbling tastes in influences - a bit of dance, a bit of alternative, some roots in '60s pop or soul perhaps, and maybe a stray nugget from something obscure like Krautrock or dub or rockabilly. The other volumes usually come from true DJs or, rarely, those with something special to say. Regardless of whether you enjoy Röyksopp's vision of polished downbeat pop, the duo's interest in post-disco and Euro-dance pays major dividends here for those looking to hear something beyond the usual Klein + M.B.O. or Alexander Robotnick singles. The vast majority of the tracks hail from that magical time (1978-1984) when disco, new wave, and synth pop were colliding with fantastic results, especially considering the quality of these obscurities…

The LateNightTales series is an easy gateway for those interested in finding where an artist's influences lie - with volumes that are curated by Jamiroquai, MGMT, Belle & Sebastian, and Lindstrøm, among many others - and Röyksopp's contribution showcases the Norwegian duo's love of analog synthesizer tones. The album's 19 tracks weave an icy, cinematic narrative as Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge pick choice cuts from their record collections. Most of these songs are from the '70s and '80s, and are innocent and somber songs of the new wave, yacht rock, AM pop, and ambient variety. No surprise that they would select Vangelis' synth theme "Blade Runner Blues" from the Blade Runner soundtrack, or the chilling classical-themed vocoder piece "Odi et Amo" by Jóhann Jóhannsson…

Award-winning electro-pop duo from Australia, containing members of the Sleepy Jackson and Pnau.
Best known for their hit single "Walking on a Dream," Australia's larger-than-life electro-glam-pop duo Empire of the Sun feature the Sleepy Jackson's Luke Steele and Pnau's Nick Littlemore. Steele had previously worked with Pnau on "With You Forever," a track from the band's 2007 self-titled third album, and the pair enjoyed collaborating so much that they started their own project, drawing inspiration from the likes of Phoenix and Daft Punk. In fall 2008, Empire of the Sun released their debut album, Walking on a Dream, which the musicians described as "a spiritual road movie." Featuring songs co-written by Pnau's other half, Peter Mayes, the album went platinum in Australia and the title track became a hit single across the globe…

It wasn't surprising that the Buggles' second release, Adventures in Modern Recording, didn't meet the expectations that 1980's internationally successful The Age of Plastic set. Both Horn and Downes had been working on several outside projects, including Yes' 1980 release Drama, which severely limited their time, and for the most part, Adventures was a Trevor Horn solo project; Geoff Downes only appears on three tracks. However, many of the criticisms leveled against this outing were unfounded and there is still much to like; several songs, such as the infectious title track, equal The Age of Plastic. Both "Adventures in Modern Recording" and "Inner City," with its lush arrangement and engrossing melody, show off Horn's remarkable production savvy…

35 years after its original release comes this 2 CD digipak edition of the band’s third studio album “Perhaps” plus related bonus tracks.
The Associates were leading lights of the New Pop movement from the early 1980’s. Hailing from Dundee on the east coast of Scotland, the band signed to Fiction Records before spells working with and recording for both Situation Two and WEA Records. Originally released in February 1985 after exhaustive recording sessions, Billy Mackenzie finally followed up the 1982 Associates album Sulk with this 10 track offering. The album was a long time in the making and featured four different producers, Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware, Martin Rushent, Dave Allen and Greg Walsh…