Record Collection
I made a list of my favourite albums, with my top thirty-ish at the top, and the rest in order by year, which you can stream on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, etc., if you wish. David Bowie is my favourite singer. Ladytron is my favourite group. My favourite period of music is the punk rock / new wave era from 1976-79, plus a few electronic things from the ’70s and ’80s until the present day. “Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush is my favourite single of all time, followed by “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” by Tubeway Army, “Dear Prudence” by Siouxsie & The Banshees, “The Model” by Kraftwerk, “She’s in Parties” by Bauhaus, “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer, “Senses Working Overtime” by X.T.C., “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics, “Sunday Girl” by Blondie, “Our Lips Are Sealed” by Fun Boy Three, “Bedsitter” by Soft Cell, “Let’s Go Round There” by The Darling Buds, “What Difference Does It Make?” by The Smiths, “Mad World” by Tears for Fears, “Crucify” by Tori Amos, “This Is Not a Love Song” by Public Image Ltd., “S.O.S.” by ABBA, “Dress” by PJ Harvey, “Hymn” by Ultravox, “Duel” by Propaganda, and “Ghosts” by Japan.
My favourite music video is “Hungry like the Wolf” by Duran Duran, which is directed by Russell Mulcahy, whose subsequent film credits include “Highlander” and “Razorback”. The video was recorded in Sri Lanka, as part of a series of three promos (the others are “Save a Prayer” and “Lonely in Your Nightmare“), and these are among the first by a British group to be set in such a distant overseas location. The previous year, Steven Spielberg’s “Raiders of the Lost Ark” was a worldwide cinema hit, and this may have been part of the inspiration for this video, which also contains several visual references to Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”. Under Russell Mulcahy’s direction, the camerawork and editing has an urgency that matches the muscular, animalistic nature of the music. The video is notable in that it was one of the first to be broadcast on MTV to show an interracial kiss, something that is relatively rare to see in a music video, even to this day. Although the clip looks as if it was made with an almost unlimited budget, remarkably it cost less than ÂŁ20,000 to produce. However, it wasn’t all quite as glamorous as might at first appear: while filming in Sri Lanka, the guitarist managed to drink a quantity of elephant’s urine after falling into a lagoon, and this led to part of the group’s Australian tour having to be postponed whilst he recovered in hospital with dysentery (bloody diarrhoea). Singer Simon Le Bon has stated that he was inspired to write the lyrics to this song by the story of “Little Red Riding Hood”, with Simon singing from the point-of-view of the wolf. The distinctive electronic backing is the result of experimenting with what would happen if a drum machine is connected to a sequencer and a Roland Jupiter-8 keyboard. This part of the single is taken directly from the demo, as the group was unable to replicate the sound of the original recording.
Finally, my favourite YouTube channel is ThatPoppyTV, which is the creation of singer-songwriter Poppy. The channel has over 400 videos, which combine popular culture themes (which Poppy gently pokes fun at) with surrealist elements. The videos are generally short, typically 20-40 seconds, perhaps intended to mirror the length of a tweet as a form of modern communication. Poppy’s videos are strikingly imaginative, often amusing, sometimes puzzling, but always perfectly executed, such as this interview with Poppy. The songs contained within Poppy’s two albums and two e.p.s (all of which she has made available to stream on ThatPoppyTV) explore topics such as technology, climate change, A.I., veganism, the treatment of animals as commodities, the influence of the Internet on modern life, and much more. Poppy’s music is as eclectic as the catalogue of subjects she examines: starting with the power-pop of her debut single, “Everybody Wants to Be Poppy“, to songwriting that shows the influence of Japanese and Korean pop music, such as “Moshi Moshi“, from Poppy’s accomplished first album, “Poppy.computer”, to more recent nu-metal recordings, such as “X” [strobe lighting in this video], about life in a cult (Poppy was once the leader of her own church), and my very favourite song that Poppy has recorded, “Play Destroy“, from her second album, “Am I a Girl?”. I’ve been vegetarian for nearly 30 years. When Poppy writes in the lyrics of her song “Meat” that animals in a slaughterhouse see their family, brothers, sisters, parents, murdered before their eyes, this was the first time I considered this. Poppy has her own unique way of interpreting the world, and she is able to help us to see things in a completely new way. For this reason, I would describe Poppy as a highly individual and important artist.
David Bowie: Let’s Dance [l.p., 1983] Low [1977] Diamond Dogs [1974] Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) [1980] The Man Who Sold the World [1970] The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars [1972] Young Americans [1975] Lodger [1979] Outside [1995] Hours [1999] Reality [2003] The Next Day [2013] â [2016]
Gary Numan: The Pleasure Principle [1979] Replicas [1979] Tubeway Army [1978] Living Ornaments ’79 [live, 1979] Telekon [1980] Dance [1981] I, Assassin [1982] Warriors [1983] Berserker [1984] Metal Rhythm [1988] Sacrifice [1994] Exile [1997] Pure [2000] Jagged Edge [2008] Dead Son Rising [2011] Savage (Songs from a Broken World) [2017] Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind) [2013] Intruder [2021] My Name Is Ruin [streaming single, 2017]
Gary Numan [ii]: after “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” reached #1 in June 1979, Gary dropped the Tubeway Army stage name for the release of his next single, âCarsâ (with strobe effects), which was to be the second of two British #1 singles in 1979, together with two #1 albums in the same year, “Replicas” and “The Pleasure Principle”]
Talking Heads: Talking Heads ’77 [1977] More Songs about Buildings and Food [1978] Fear of Music [1979] The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads [live, 1982] Speaking in Tongues [1983] Naked [1988] This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) [live, 1983]
Blondie: Blondie [1976] Plastic Letters [1977] Parallel Lines [1978] Eat to the Beat [1979] Autoamerican [1980] Heart of Glass [7″ single, 1979; also from 1979, my favourite recording by Blondie was never released as a single, itâs the final track on side one of the groupâs fourth album: Accidents Never Happen; from âEat to the Beatâ]
X-Ray Spex: Germfree Adolescents [1978; this is my favourite album of all time] Art-i-ficial [live, 1978]
Japan: Quiet Life [l.p., 1979] Tin Drum [1981] Gentlemen Take Polaroids [1980] Visions of China [7″ single, 1981]
Soft Cell: The Art of Falling Apart [1983] Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret [1981] This Last Night ⊠in Sodom [1984] Cruelty without Beauty [2002] *Happiness Not Included [2022] Torch [7″ single, 1982]
Marc Almond: The Stars We Are [1988] Vermin in Ermine [1984] Stories of Johnny [1985] Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters [1987] Tenement Symphony [1991] Enchanted [1990] Marc and the Mambas: Torment and Toreros [1983] Untitled [1982] Tears Run Rings [7″ single, 1988; Marc sings and co-writes with Soft Cell]
Grace Jones: Warm Leatherette [1980] Nightclubbing [1981] Living My Life [1982] Hurricane [2011] Private Life [7″ single, 1980]
The Doll: Listen to the Silence [1979] Desire Me [7″ single, 1979]
Duran Duran: Rio [l.p., 1982] Duran Duran [1981] Seven and the Ragged Tiger [1983] Notorious [1986] Pop Trash [2000] Red Carpet Massacre [2007] All You Need Is Now [l.p, 2010; with flickering video effects] Paper Gods [2015] Future Past [2021] Is There Something I Should Know? [7″ single, 1983]
Arcadia: So Red the Rose [1985] Goodbye Is Forever [7″ single, 1986; Arcadia is Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, and Roger Taylor from Duran Duran in a one-off side project; “So Red the Rose” is my second favourite Duran-related album, after “Rio”]
Marina and the Diamonds: The Family Jewels [2010; this is my favourite album of the 21st century] FROOT [2015] Ancient Dreams in a Modern Land [2021] Hollywood [from âThe Family Jewelsâ]
Ladytron: 604 [2001] Light & Magic [2002] Witching Hour [2005] Velocifero [2008] Gravity the Seducer [2011] Ladytron [2019] Timeâs Arrow [2023] Marnie: Crystal World [2013] Ace of Hz [from âGravity the Seducerâ]
Austra: Feel It Break [2011] HiRUDiN [2020] Future Politics [2017] Olympia [2013] Katie Stelmanis: Join Us [2008] Lose It [from “Feel It Break”; with strobe effects]
Austra [ii]: (without strobes) this is the sound from which Austraâs debut album takes its title: The Beat and the Pulse [from “Feel It Break”]
Computer Magic: Davos [2015] Scientific Experience [2012] Mindstate [2015] The Absurdity of Human Existence [2021] Danz [2018] Hiding from Our Time e.p. [2010] Hiding from More of Our Time e.p. [2010] Electronic Fences e.p. [2011] KitsunĂ©: Orion e.p. [2012] Obscure But Visible e.p. [2016] Fuzz [from âDavosâ; flickering strobe effects throughout this video]
Computer Magic [ii]: if you are unable to watch the previous clip, try “Give Me Just a Minute” from Danielle’s fantastic, otherworldly album “Davos”, or “A Million Years” instead.
Ladyhawke: Ladyhawke [2008] Anxiety [2012] Wild Things [2016] Time Flies [2021] Paris Is Burning [from âLadyhawkeâ]
Ladyhawke [ii]: the first song by Ladyhawke that I heard was “Professional Suicide“, which was playing over the speakers in a Dr. Martens shoe shop near Covent Garden. I was too shy to ask staff what CD was playing, so I memorised the chorus and looked this up when I got home. Upon hearing Ladyhawke’s debut album, I instantly fell in love with Phillipa’s music, and she is one of my favourite songwriters to this day.
Lissie: Catching a Tiger [2010] Back to Forever [2013] Carving Canyons [2022] Castles [2018] My Wild West [2016] Covered Up with Flowers e.p. [2011] Cryn’ to You e.p. [2014] Pursuit of Happiness [live, 2010; from “Covered Up with Flowers”]
The Jam: Setting Sons [1979] Sound Affects [1980] All Mod Cons [1978] In the City [1977] The Gift [1982] Going Underground [7″ single, 1980]
The Stranglers: Black and White [1978] Rattus Norvegicus [1977] No More Heroes [l.p, 1977; with strobe effects] The Raven [1979] Aural Sculpture [1984] Norfolk Coast [2004] Suite XVI [2006] Golden Brown [7″ single, 1982]
J.J. Burnel: Euroman Cometh [1979] Freddie Laker (Concorde & Eurobus) [7″ single, 1979; Jean-Jacques Burnel is the bass guitarist and occasional singer with The Stranglers. “Euroman Cometh” is my second favourite Stranglers-related album after “Black and White”. The music video was recorded at Carnaby Street, central London.]
The Undertones: The Undertones [1979] Hypnotised [1980] Teenage Kicks [7″ single, 1977]
Sex Pistols: Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols [1977] Pretty Vacant [7″ single, 1977]
Kraftwerk: Trans-Europe Express [1977] The Man-Machine [1978] Computer World [1981]
Roxy Music: Avalon [1982] Flesh + Blood [1980] Manifesto [1979] For Your Pleasure [1973] Jealous Guy [7″ single, 1981]
Roxy Music [ii]: Angel Eyes [7″ single, 1979] All I Want Is You [7″ single, 1974]
Bryan Ferry: In Your Mind [1977] The Bride Stripped Bare [1978] Boys and Girls [1985] BĂȘte Noire [1987] Is Your Love Strong Enough? [7″ single, 1986; Bryan is the singer and primary songwriter with Roxy Music]
Kate Bush: The Kick Inside [1978] Lionheart [1979] Never Forever [1980] The Dreaming [l.p., 1982; with flickering LASER effects] Hounds of Love [1985] The Sensual World [1989] The Man with the Child in His Eyes [7″ single, 1978]
Kate Bush [ii]: Army Dreamers [7″ single, 1980] Experiment IV [7″ single, 1986]
Siouxsie & The Banshees: The Scream [1978] Join Hands [1979] Kaleidoscope [1980] Juju [1981] Through the Looking Glass [1987] Superstition [1991] Downside Up [2004; B-sides compilation recorded 1978-94] Hong Kong Garden [7″ single, 1978]
The Creatures: Miss the Girl [7″ single, 1983; The Creatures is Siouxsie and Budgie from The Banshees in an occasional spin-off project]
Siouxsie & The Banshees [ii]: these are my two favourite songs from the first album: Metal Postcard and Jigsaw Feeling [live, 1978; from “The Scream”]
Adam & The Ants: Dirk Wears White SĂžx [1979] Kings of the Wild Frontier [1980] ZerĂžx [7″ single, 1979; with complex repeating patterns and frequent flickering images]
Adam Ant: Friend or Foe [1982] Vive le Rock [1985] Strip [1983] B-side Babies [1994; recorded 1980-85] Goody Two Shoes [7″ single, 1982; Adam’s first solo single]
Ramones: Ramones [1976] Leave Home [1977] Rocket to Russia [1977] Road to Ruin [1978] End of the Century [1980] I Just Want to Have Something to Do [from “Road to Ruin”]
The Damned: Damned Damned Damned [1977] Music for Pleasure [1978] Machine Gun Etiquette [1979] Phantasmagoria [1985] Anti-Pope [live, 2017; from “Machine Gun Etiquette”]
Buzzcocks: Another Music in a Different Kitchen [1978] Love Bites [1978] Spiral Scratch e.p. [1977] Time’s Up! [studio demos recorded live, 1976] Boredom [live, 1980; from “Spiral Scratch”]
Magazine: Real Life [1978] Secondhand Daylight [1979] The Correct Use of Soap [1980] No Thyself [2011] Shot by Both Sides [7″ single, 1978]
Ultravox! (original line-up, with John Foxx): Ha!-Ha!-Ha! [1977] Ultravox! [1977] Systems of Romance [1978]
Ultravox (second line-up, with Midge Ure): Vienna [l.p, 1980] Rage in Eden [1981] Quartet [1982] Lament [1984] The Voice [7″ single, 1981]
John Foxx: Metamatic [1980; this is my favourite electronic album of all time] The Garden [1981] Interplay [2011] Underpass [7″ single, 1980]
The Shirelles: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? [7″ single, 1961]
Dion: The Wanderer [7″ single, 1961]
The cast of âWest Side Storyâ: America [from the film âWest Side Storyâ, which is a contemporary re-imagining of the play âRomeo and Julietâ by William Shakespeare, directed by the great Robert Wise, 1961]
Lesley Gore: It’s My Party / She’s a Fool [medley, 1963]
Petula Clark: Downtown [7″ single, 1964]
The Honeycombs: Have I the Right? [7″ single, 1964]
The Mamas & The Papas: California Dreamin’ [7″ single, 1965]
Nancy Sinatra: These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ [7″ single, 1965]
The Supremes: You Can’t Hurry Love [7″ single, 1966]
The Monkees: Daydream Believer [7″ single, 1967]
The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band [1967] 1962â1966 (The Red Album) [1973] Eight Days a Week [7″ single, 1964]
The Doors: The Doors [1967] Strange Days [1967] Waiting for the Sun [1968] The Soft Parade [1969] Light My Fire [7″ single, 1967]
Scott McKenzie: San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) [7″ single, 1967; counterculture anthem to flower power and the 1967 summer of love]
The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Are You Experienced [1967] Axis: Bold as Love [1967] Electric Ladyland [1968] Purple Haze [7″ single, 1967]
The Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed [1967] In Search of the Lost Chord [1968] Nights in White Satin [7″ single, 1967]
Gene Pitney: Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart [7″ single, 1967]
Sandie Shaw: Puppet on a String [7″ single, 1967]
Procol Harum: A Whiter Shade of Pale [7″ single, 1967]
Dusty Springfield: Son-of-a Preacher Man [7″ single, 1968]
Manfred Mann: Mighty Quinn [7″ single, 1968]
Desmond Dekker & The Aces: Israelites [7″ single, 1968]
Steppenwolf: Born to Be Wild [7″ single, 1968]
The Kinks: The Ultimate Collection [2002; recorded 1964-84] Come Dancing [7″ single, 1983]
Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger & The Trinity: This Wheel’s on Fire [7″ single, 1968]
Marmalade: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da [7″ single, 1968]
Shocking Blue: Venus [7″ single, 1969; presenter Jimmy Savile is on screen during the first and last 15 seconds]
The Rolling Stones: GRRR! [2012; recorded 1963-2012] Gimme Shelter [7″ single, 1969]
Candi Staton: I’m Just a Prisoner [1970] Music Speaks Louder than Words [1977] Nights on Broadway [7″ single, 1977]
Black Sabbath: Paranoid [l.p., 1970; with flashing images] Black Sabbath [1970]
Middle of the Road: Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep [7″ single, 1971; wonderfully silly and charming worldwide #1 written from the point-of-view of a baby bird who wakes in his nest to find that his mother and siblings have flown away without him]
The Rattles: The Witch [l.p., 1971]
Fanny: Hey Bulldog [live, 1971 or 1972]
T. Rex: Electric Warrior [1971] The Slider [1972] Dandy in the Underworld [1977] Bolan’s Zip Gun [1975] Children of the Revolution [7″ single, 1972; â⊠I drive a Rolls Royce ‘cos it’s good for my voice âŠâ – Marc Bolan]
The Who: Who’s Next [1971] Quadrophenia [1973] Who Are You [1978] Tommy [1969] Won’t Get Fooled Again [live, 1978, originally 1971; flickering LASER effects starting at 6.39 minutes until end]
Edwin Starr: Involved [1971] War & Peace [1970]
James Brown: Get on the Good Foot [1972] Black Caesar [1973] There It Is [1972] The Payback [1973] Reality [1974] Living in America [7″ single, 1985; with flickering time-lapse images]
David Bowie: Starman [7″ single, 1972]
Chicory Tip: Son of My Father [7″ single, 1972; written by Giorgio Moroder with English lyrics by Pete Bellote, this prototype electropop single is the first ever British #1 with a predominantly electronic sound]
Don McLean: American Pie [live, 1972]
Ike & Tina Turner: Nutbush City Limits [7″ single, 1973; after escaping an abusive marriage to Ike, Tina slowly rebuilt her career; eight yearsâ later, this is the song that catapulted Tina to the status of international superstar: Whatâs Love Got to Do with It?; 7″ single, 1984]
The Hues Corporation: Rock the Boat [7″ single, 1974]
Roxy Music: Street Life [live, 1974; â⊠watch what you say, or think, or do âŠâ – Bryan Ferry; this string of words could have been written with 2023 in mind]
Labelle: Nightbirds [1974] Pressure Cookin’ [1973] Lady Marmalade [7″ single, 1974]
Queen: The Game [1980] The Works [1984] Greatest Hits [1981] Killer Queen [7″ single, 1974]
Commodores: Machine Gun [1974] Caught in the Act [1975] Movin’ On [1975] Nightshift [7″ single, 1985]
Maxine Nightingale: Right Back Where We Started From [7″ single, 1975]
Sailor: A Glass of Champagne [7″ single, 1975]
Pussycat: Mississippi [7″ single, 1975] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF0TdafrWvE
Gloria Gaynor: Reach Out, I’ll Be There [7″ single, 1975]
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel: Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) [7″ single, 1975; Although the group normally writes all of its own material, Duran Duran used to perform a live cover of this song as part of the encore during the 1982 Rio tour: Come Up and See Me (Make Me Smile); this ended up eventually as the B-side to Duran Duranâs U.K. and U.S. #1 The Reflex; 7″ single, 1984; with flickering television interference effects]
Ralph McTell: Streets of London [7″ single, 1975]
Cher: Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street?
[live, 1975; from Cherâs television variety show, âThe Cher Showâ; twenty yearsâ later, Cher recorded this beautiful single: Walking in Memphis; 5″ c.d.s., 1995]
The Meters: Fire on the Bayou [1975] Rejuvenation [1974] Cabbage Alley [1972]
The Real Thing: You to Me Are Everything [7″ single, 1976]
Deniece Williams: This Is Niecy [1976] Let’s Hear It for the Boy [7″ single, 1984]
The Runaways: The Runaways [1976] Queens of Noise [1977] Cherry Bomb [7″ single, 1976]
Elton John: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart [7″ single, 1976; duet with Kiki Dee]
Leo Sayer: You Make Me Feel like Dancing [7″ single, 1976]
Tina Charles: I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance) [7″ single, 1976]
Cliff Richard: Devil Woman [7″ single, 1976]
Fox: S-S-S-Single Bed [7″ single, 1976; the singer is Susan Traynor a.k.a. Noosha Fox; Susan is the mother of Ben ‘Bad Science’ Goldacre]
David Dundas: Jeans On [7″ single, 1976; introduced by Jimmy Savile; three of the five dancers on stage are Sue, Patti, and Lulu, who will soon take their places as part of Top of the Popsâ fantastic dance troupe Legs & Co.]
Earth, Wind & Fire: Spirit [1976] All ‘n’ All [1978] I Am [1979] Let’s Groove [7″ single, 1981]
Jethro Tull: Songs from the Wood [1977] Heavy Horses [1978] Stormwatch [1979] Ring Out, Solstice Bells [7″ e.p., 1976]
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life [1976] Hotter than July [1980] Master Blaster (Jammin’) [7″ single, 1980]
Eddie & The Hot Rods: Teenage Depression [1976] Do Anything You Wanna Do [7″ single, 1977]
ABBA: Eagle [European 7″ single, 1977; with flashing mirror ball effects]
Wire: Pink Flag [1977] Chairs Missing [1978] 154 [1979] A Bell Is a Cup … Until It Is Struck [1988] Object 47 [2008] Nocturnal Koreans [2016] Mind Hive [2020]
Cerrone: Supernature [7″ single, 1977; flickering video effect for 8 seconds starting at 3.04 minutes]
The Boomtown Rats: The Boomtown Rats [1977]
The Damned: Neat Neat Neat [7″ single, 1977]
The Saints: (I’m) Stranded [1977] Eternally Yours [1978]
Thelma Houston: Don’t Leave Me This Way [7″ single, 1977]
The Outsiders: Calling on Youth [1977]
David Bowie: Be My Wife [7″ single, 1977]
The Vibrators: Pure Mania [1977]
Baccara: Yes Sir, I Can Boogie [7″ single, 1977]
Cameo: Cardiac Arrest [1977] We All Know Who We Are [1977] Ugly Ego [1978] Secret Omen [1979] Cameosis [1980] Feel Me [1980]
The Clash: The Clash [1977] Combat Rock [1982] Sandinista! [1980] Complete Control [7″ single, 1977; strobe at 3.09 minutes for 1 second]
Mother’s Finest: Another Mother Further [1977] Iron Age [1981]
Chic: Chic [1977] C’est Chic [1978] RisquĂ© [1979] Le Freak [7″ single, 1978]
The Radiators from Space: T.v. Tube Heart [1977]
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Exodus [l.p., 1977] Survival [1979] Kaya [1978]
Patti LaBelle: Patti LaBelle [1977]
The Carpenters: Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft (The Recognized Anthem of World Contact Day) [7″ single, 1977]
The Emotions: Rejoice [1977] Flowers [1976]
Tom Robinson Band: 2-4-6-8 Motorway [7″ single, 1977]
Billy Preston: A Whole New Thing [1977] Late at Night [1979]
Donna Summer: I Remember Yesterday [1977] A Love Trilogy [1976] Bad Girls [1979] Lady of the Night [1974] Love to Love You Baby [1975] Donna Summer [1982] State of Independence [7″ single, 1982]
Giorgio Moroder: From Here to Eternity [1978]
The Police: Outlandos d’Amour [1978] Regatta de Blanc [1979] Ghost in the Machine [1981] Synchronicity [1983] Message in a Bottle [7″ single, 1979; The Police had two U.K. #1 singles in 1979; this is the other: Walking on the Moon]
The Adverts: Crossing the Red Sea with The Adverts [1978]
Warren Zevon: Werewolves of London [7″ single, 1978]
Dr. Feelgood: Private Practice [1978]
Blondie: Picture This [7″ single, 1978]
Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking [1978]
Andrew Gold: Never Let Her Slip Away [7″ single, 1978]
Avengers: Avengers e.p. [1978] We Are the One e.p. [1977]
Renaissance: A Song for All Seasons [1978] Scheherazade and Other Stories [1976] Northern Lights [7″ single, 1978]
Penetration: Moving Targets [1978] Resolution [2015]
Hot Chocolate: Every 1’s a Winner [7″ single, 1978]
Slaughter and the Dogs: Do It Dog Style [1978]
The Lurkers: Fulham Fallout [1978] God’s Lonely Men [1979] I Don’t Need to Tell Her [7″ single, 1978]
Crass: The Feeding of the 5000 [1978] Stations of the Crass [1979]
Marshall Hain: Dancing in the City [7″ single, 1978]
Hamilton Bohannon: Summertime Groove [1978]
Generation X: Generation X [1978] Valley of the Dolls [1979] Your Generation [7″ single, 1977; with rapid back-and-forth camera motion; starts with a fantastic introduction by Marc Bolan]
Rose Royce: In Full Bloom [1978] Car Wash [1976]
Eruption: I Can’t Stand the Rain [7″ single, 1978]
Patti Smith Group: Easter [1978]
Elvis Costello & The Attractions: This Year’s Model [1978] Get Happy!! [1980] Imperial Bedroom [1982] Trust [1981] Blood & Chocolate [1986] King of America [1986] The Imposter: Pills and Soap [7″ single, 1983]
Norma Jean: Norma Jean [1978]
The Rezillos: Can’t Stand The Rezillos [1978] Top of the Pops [7″ single, 1978]
Raydio: Raydio [1978] Rock On [1979]
Sally Oldfield: Water Bearer [1978] Mandala [7″ single, 1980]
Parlet: Pleasure Principle [1978] Invasion of the Booty Snatchers [1979] Play Me or Trade Me [1980]
A Taste of Honey: A Taste of Honey [1978] Boogie Oogie Oogie [7″ single, 1978]
The Brides of Funkenstein: Funk or Walk [1978] Never Buy Texas from a Cowboy [1979]
Brian and Michael: Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs [7″ single, 1978; written about the great L. S. Lowry, who painted working class life in 20th century Manchester and Salford]
The Fall: Singles, Vol. 1 [2017; recorded 1978-85]
Lene Lovich: Stateless [1978] New Toy [7″ single, 1981]
Disco Zombies: South London Stinks [2020; recorded 1978-81]
Sham 69: Hurry Up Harry [7″ single, 1978]
Kleenex / LiLiPUT: First Songs [2016; recorded 1978-82]
Boney M.: Nightflight to Venus [1978] Daddy Cool [7″ single, 1976]
The Kids: The Kids [1978; punk rock from Belgium]
Rachel Sweet: Fool Around [1978] Then He Kissed Me / Be My Baby [7″ single, 1981]
Funkadelic: One Nation Under a Groove [1978]
The Cars: The Cars [1978] Candy-O [1979] Panorama [1980] Shake It Up [1981] Just What I Needed [7″ single, 1978]
The Normal: T.V.O.D. b/w Warm Leatherette [7″ single, 1978]
Sister Sledge: We Are Family [l.p., 1979] Lost in Music [7″ single, 1979]
Gang of Four: Entertainment! [1979] Content [2011]
Amii Stewart: Knock on Wood [7″ single, 1979]
Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material [1979] Nobody’s Heroes [1980] Go for It! [1981]
The Flying Lizards: Money [7″ single, 1979]
Suzi Lane: Ooh, La, La [1979]
The Tourists: Reality Effect [1979] Luminous Basement [1980] I Only Want to Be with You [7″ single, 1979; with pre-Eurythmics Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart]
Delta 5: Singles & Sessions 1979-81 [2006] See the Whirl [1981]
Ian Dury & The Blockheads: Do It Yourself [1979] Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick [7″ single, 1978]
The Gap Band: The Gap Band II [1979] The Gap Band III [1980] The Gap Band IV [1982]
M: Pop Muzik [7″ single, 1979]
Kool & The Gang: Ladies’ Night [1979] Celebrate! [1980] Something Special [1981]
The Buggles: Video Killed the Radio Star [7″ single, 1979; the singer is Trevor Horn, who will later produce landmark records by ABC, Dollar, Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Marc Almond, t.A.T.u., LeAnn Rimes; less well known, but almost as intricate follow-up: Living in the Plastic Age; 7â single, 1980]
U.K. Subs: Another Kind of Blues [1979] Brand New Age [1980]
The Selecter: On My Radio [7″ single, 1979]
Sparks: No. 1 in Heaven [1979] Hello Young Lovers [2006]
Joe Jackson: I’m the Man [1979] Look Sharp! [1978] Steppin’ Out [7″ single, 1982]
The Specials: The Specials [1979] More Specials [1980]
Roxy Music: Dance Away [7″ single, 1979]
Iggy Pop: New Values [1979] Party [1981] The Idiot [1977]
Anita Ward: Ring My Bell [7″ single, 1979]
Lowlife: Leaders e.p. [1979]
Dave Edmunds: Riff Raff [1984] Information [1983] Girls Talk [7″ single, 1979; written by Elvis Costello, who later recorded it as a B-side]
Betty Wright: Betty Travelin’ in the Wright Circle [1979]
Skids: Scared to Dance [1979] Days in Europa [1979; remixed 1980] Into the Valley [7″ single, 1979]
The Dickies: The Incredible Shrinking Dickies [1979] Dawn of the Dickies [1979] Stukas over Disneyland [1983]
Fischer-Z: Word Salad [1979] The Worker [7″ single, 1979]
Wardell Piper: Wardell Piper [1979]
The Ruts: The Crack [1979] In a Rut [live, 1980]
Minny Pops: Drastic Measures, Drastic Movement [1979] Sparks in a Dark Room [1982]
Toyah: Sheep Farming in Barnet [1979] The Blue Meaning [1980] Love Is the Law [1983] Anthem [1981] The Changeling [1982] Good Morning Universe [7″ single, 1981]
Duffo: Duffo [1979]
Joy Division: Unknown Pleasures [1979] Closer [1980] Substance [1988; recorded 1977-80] She’s Lost Control [live, 1979]
Yachts: Yachts [1979]
The B-52’s: The B-52’s [1979] Wild Planet [1980] Cosmic Thing [1989] Song for a Future Generation [7″ single, 1983]
Fleetwood Mac: Tusk [1979] Rumours [1977]
Sniff ‘n’ The Tears: Driver’s Seat [7″ single, 1979]
The Slits: Cut [1979] Revenge of the Killer Slits e.p. [2002]
The Cure: Seventeen Seconds [1980] Faith [1981] Pornography [1982] Japanese Whispers e.p. [1983] The Top [1984] The Head on the Door [1985] The Walk [7″ single, 1983]
Dead Kennedys: Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables [1980] Plastic Surgery Disasters [1982] Frankenchrist [1985]
Visage: Visage [1980] Demons to Diamonds [2015] Hearts and Knives [2013] Fade to Grey [7″ single, 1980]
A Certain Ratio: The Graveyard and the Ballroom [1980]
Martha & The Muffins: Echo Beach [7″ single, 1980]
Young Marble Giants: Colossal Youth [1980]
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark [1980] Organisation [1980] Messages [7″ single, 1980]
KaS Product: Black & Noir [1990; recorded 1980] Try Out [1981] By Pass [1983]
Pretenders: Pretenders [1980] Pretenders II [1981] Learning to Crawl [1983] Back on the Chain Gang [7″ single, 1982]
Fad Gadget: Fireside Favourites [1980] Under the Flag [1982]
The Teardrop Explodes: Kilimanjaro [1980] Reward [7″ single, 1981]
Berlin Blondes: Berlin Blondes [1980]
Siouxsie & The Banshees: Israel [7″ single, 1980]
The Beat: I Just Can’t Stop It [1980] Wha’ppen? [1981]
Jona Lewie: Stop the Cavalry [7″ single, 1980]
The Piranhas: The Piranhas [1980]
X.T.C.: Black Sea [1980] Drums and Wires [1979] The Dukes of Stratosphear: Psonic Psunspot [1987] 25 O’Clock e.p. [1985] Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me) [7″ single, 1980; finding it hard to decide between this and Making Plans for Nigel; 7″ single, 1979]
Dalek I Love You: Compass Kumpas [1980]
The Bodysnatchers: Let’s Do Rock Steady [7″ single, 1980; The Bodysnatchers recorded two singles and two Radio 1 sessions for John Peel, then split when singer Rhoda Dakar left; upon recruiting a new lead vocalist, Jennie Matthias, the group would find even greater success under a new name: The Belle Stars; if you look carefully, you can see an early, long out-of-date Top of the Pops logo that was in use between 1966 and 1969 to the right of the stage]
Diana Ross: Diana Ross [1980] The Boss [1979]
Killing Joke: Killing Joke [1980] Revelations [1982] Night Time [1985] Love like Blood [7″ single, 1985]
Robert Palmer: Clues [1980] Secrets [1979] Double Fun [1978] Riptide [1985] Pride [1983] Sneakinâ Sally through the Alley [1974] Pressure Drop [1975] Some People Can Do What They Like [1976] Heavy Nova [1988]
Sue Wilkinson: You Gotta Be a Hustler (If You Wanna Get On) [7″ single, 1980; hardcore gangsta rap from the 1980s]
X: Los Angeles [1980] Wild Gift [1981]
The Vapors: Turning Japanese [7″ single, 1980]
The Psychedelic Furs: The Psychedelic Furs [1980]
Split Enz: I Got You [7″ single, 1980]
The Wipers: Is This Real? [1980] Over the Edge [1983]
The Passions: Michael & Miranda [1980] Sanctuary [1982] I’m in Love with a German Film Star [7″ single, 1981]
The Lambrettas: Beat Boys in the Jet Age [1980]
Bauhaus: In the Flat Field [1980] Mask [1981] Bela Lugosi’s Dead [12″ e.p., 1979]
Odyssey: Hang Together [1980]
Motörhead: Essential Noize [2005; recorded 1979-84] Ace of Spades [7″ single, 1980]
Spizzenergi: Do a Runner [1980] Spikey Dream Flower [1981]
Jon & Vangelis: I’ll Find My Way Home [7″ single, 1981]
The Human League: Dare [1981] Hysteria [1984] Travelogue [1980] Reproduction [1979] Secrets [2001] Credo [2011] The Sound of the Crowd [7″ single 1981; with flickering video effects]
ABBA: The Visitors [1981] The Album [1977] The Definitive Collection [2001; recorded 1972-82] Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man after Midnight) [7″ single, 1979]
Squeeze: Big Squeeze [2002; recorded 1978-96] Is That Love? [7″ single, 1981]
Godley & Creme: Under Your Thumb [7″ single, 1981]
Ultravox: All Stood Still [7″ single, 1981]
Imagination: Body Talk [1981] In the Heat of the Night [1982] Just an Illusion [7″ single, 1982]
Heaven 17: Penthouse and Pavement [1981] The Luxury Gap [1983] Temptation [7″ single, 1983; with an uncredited vocal by Carol Kenyon]
New Order: Movement [1981] Power, Corruption and Lies [1983] Technique [1989] Substance [1987; extended mixes and B-sides recorded 1981-87] Blue Monday [12″ single, 1983; this is the group in sound and vision: The Perfect Kiss; 7â single, 1985; this music video is a live recording of the song]
Dollar: Hand Held in Black and White [7″ single, 1981; another perfect pop single written and produced by Trevor Horn: Mirror Mirror (Mon amour); 7″ single, 1981]
Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin: It’s My Party [7″ single, 1981]
Linx: Intuition [7″ single, 1981]
Trio: Trio [1981] Trio and Error [1983] Da Da Da (I Don’t Love You You Don’t Love Me Aha Aha Aha) [7″ single, 1982]
Odyssey: I Got the Melody [1981] Hang Together [1980] Odyssey [1977] Going Back to My Roots [7″ single, 1981]
The J. Geils Band: Freeze Frame [1981] Centerfold [7″ single, 1981]
The Go-Go’s: Beauty and the Beat [1981] God Bless the Go-Go’s [2001] Vacation [1982] We Got the Beat [7″ single, 1981; after The Go-Go’s split, Belinda Carlisle’s fantastic first solo single from 1986 is called Mad about You]
Visage: Mind of a Toy [7” single, 1981]
The Cure: Charlotte Sometimes [7″ single, 1981]
Duran Duran: Careless Memories [7″ single, 1981]
The Police: Spirits in the Material World [7″ single, 1981]
UB40: Present Arms [1981] Signing Off [1980] UB44 [1982] Labour of Love [1983] One in Ten [7″ single, 1981]
Aurra: Send Your Love [1981] A Little Love [1982] Live and Let Live [1983]
Landscape: Einstein a Go-Go [7″ single, 1981; jolly sounding song about the potential for a nuclear war]
Gina X Performance: Voyeur [1981] Nice Mover [1978]
Tenpole Tudor: Eddie, Old Bob, Dick and Gary [1981] Swords of a Thousand Men [7″ single, 1981]
The Mo-Dettes: The Story So Far [1981]
Bucks Fizz: The Land of Make Believe [7″ single, 1981]
Mission of Burma: Signals, Calls and Marches e.p. [1981]
Hazel O’Connor: Will You? [7″ single, 1981; from Hazel’s fantastic movie, “Breaking Glass”, as is Eighth Day]
The Adicts: Songs of Praise [1981]
Susan Fassbender: Twilight CafĂ© [7″ single, 1981]
Department S: Sub-stance [1981]
Bow Wow Wow: See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy! [1981] When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going [1983] Your Box Set Pet (The Complete Recordings 1980â1984) [2018] Do You Wanna Hold Me? [7″ single, 1983; Bow Wow Wow managed to get banned from the Top of the Pops studio after only two appearances; this was due to the guitarist, Matthew Ashman, wearing a t-shirt printed with a black and white image of a womanâs naked breasts during a live broadcast of the show; this bit of faux outrage was almost certainly the brainchild of manager Malcolm McLaren; here is the groupâs first appearance from four weeksâ earlier: Go Wild in the Country; 7″ single, 1982]
Flue: One and a Half [1981]
Phil Lynott: Yellow Pearl [7″ single, 1981; “it’s Thursday, it’s still number one, it’s Top of the Pops!”; between July 1981 and March 1986, a 15-second edit of “Yellow Pearl” was the soundtrack to the Top of the Pops opening title (with flashing logo on this, and the next link); this short film describes how the title was made]
Holly and the Italians: The Right to Be Italian [1981]
Simple Minds: New Gold Dream (81-82-83-84) [1982] Empires and Dance [1980] Sons and Fascination / Sister Feelings Call [1981] Sparkle in the Rain [1984] Once upon a Time [1985] Big Music [2014] Walk between Worlds [2018] Glittering Prize [7″ single, 1982]
Depeche Mode: See You [7″ single, 1982; with flickering LASER effects]
Yazoo: Don’t Go [7″ single, 1982]
ABC: The Lexicon of Love [1982] How to Be a … Zillionaire! [1985] Alphabet City [1987] Beauty Stab [1983] Poison Arrow [7″ single, 1982]
Kim Wilde: Child Come Away [7″ single, 1982; flickering acoustic spectrum effects for the first 13 seconds, and from 2.45 minutes until end]
Haircut 100: Pelican West [1982] Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl) [7″ single, 1981]
Talk Talk: The Party’s Over [1982] It’s My Life [1984] Talk Talk [7″ single, 1982]
Toni Basil: Word of Mouth [1981] Toni Basil [1983] Mickey [7″ single, 1982]
Toto: Africa [7″ single, 1982]
Japan: Cantonese Boy [7″ single, 1982]
Visage: Night Train [12″ single, 1982]
Madness: One Step Beyond [1979] Absolutely [1980] Seven [1981] Rise and Fall [1982] Mad Not Mad [1985] Our House [7″ single, 1982]
The Jam: Town Called Malice [7″ single, 1982; “… a hundred lonely housewives clutch empty milk bottles to their hearts …” – Paul Weller a.k.a. God]
Altered Images: See Those Eyes [7″ single, 1982]
The Belle Stars: The Clapping Song [7″ single, 1982]
The Dots: Helen in Your headphones [7″ single, 1982; this sparkling, super-fun single reached U.K. #96; from what I can tell, it is the only record ever released by The Dots; in a more perfect world, this would have been #1]
Nicole: Ein biĂchen Frieden [7″ single, 1982; this yearâs Eurovision winner, sung by Nicole Hohloch, representing Germany; when Nicole performed her song at the closing ceremony of the contest, she made a spontaneous decision to sing parts of the song in four different languages: German, French, Dutch, and English; she was just seventeen at the time; this is close to the full English version that was #1 in the U.K. for two weeks following the contest: A Little Peace; 7″ single, 1982]
Au Pairs: Sense and Sensuality [1982] Playing with a Different Sex [1981]
Patrice Rushen: Straight from the Heart [1982] Posh [1980] Shout It Out [1977] Forget Me Knots [7″ single, 1982]
Sad Lovers & Giants: Epic Garden Music [1982] Feeding the Flame [1983] The Mirror Test [1987]
Mobiles: Mobiles [1982] Drowning in Berlin [7″ single, 1981]
Berlin: Pleasure Victim [1982]
Evelyn King: Get Loose [1982] I’m in Love [1981] Smooth Talk [1977] Love Come Down [7″ single, 1982]
Thomas Dolby: The Golden Age of Wireless [1982]
Monsoon: Ever so Lonely [7″ single, 1982]
The 39 Clocks: Subnarcotic [1982] Paint It Dark [1981]
Mari Wilson: Just What I Always Wanted [7″ single, 1982]
Our Daughter’s Wedding: Moving Windows [1982]
Junior: Mama Used to Say [7″ single, 1982]
Modern Art: Underwater Kites [1982]
Fat Larry’s Band: Zoom [7″ single, 1982]
Rational Youth: Cold War Night Life [1982]
Daryl Hall & John Oates: Maneater [7″ single, 1982]
Shalamar: Friends [1982] The Look [1983] Three for Love [1980]
Dionne Warwick: Heartbreaker [7″ single, 1982]
Blitz: Voice of a Generation [1982] Second Empire Justice [1983]
Missing Persons: Spring Session M [1982] Rhyme & Reason [1984] Dreaming [2020] Destination Unknown [7″ single, 1982]
The Twins: Modern Lifestyle [1982]
Steve Miller Band: Abracadabra [7″ single, 1982]
Elisa Waut: Elisa Waut [1982]
Eurythmics: Love Is a Stranger [7″ single, 1982]
Devo: Oh, No! It’s Devo [1982]
Billy Idol: White Wedding (Part One) [7″ single, 1982]
Kid Creole & The Coconuts: Tropical Gangsters [1982]
Blancmange: Happy Families [1982] Mange Tout [1984] Living on the Ceiling [7″ single, 1982]
Michael Jackson: Thriller [1982] Off the Wall [1979]
The Maisonettes: Heartache Avenue [7″ single, 1982]
Sharon Redd: Redd Hott [1982]
Bardo: One Step Further [7″ single, 1982; Sally Ann Triplett â„]
Mick Karn: Titles [1982]
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts: I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll [7″ single, 1982]
Modern English: After the Snow [1982] Ricochet Days [1984]
China Crisis: Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms [1982] Working with Fire and Steel [1983] Flaunt the Imperfection [1985] Tragedy and Mystery [7″ single, 1983]
China Crisis [ii]: Wishful Thinking [7″ single, 1984] King in a Catholic Style (Wake Up) [7″ single, 1985]
Prince Charles & The City Beat Band: Stone Killers [1982] Combat Zone [1984]
Before we continue to the next section, letâs have a short commercial break; here are three visually stunning television adverts that were on the box at about this time: Wrangler: What’s Going On? [1982] Maxell: Break the Sound Barrier [1982] Lee Cooper: Donât Be a Dummy [1978; the figure in the Maxell advert is Peter Murphy, who is the singer with Bauhaus; the voice in the Lee Cooper commercial is Gary Numan]
The 39 Clocks: Subnarcotic [1982] Paint It Dark [1981]
Yazoo: You and Me Both [1983] Nobody’s Diary [7″ single, 1983; this year, 1983, is my favourite individual year in music, followed by 1982, 1984, and then 1979]
Tears for Fears: The Hurting [1983] Songs from the Big Chair [1985] Graduate: Acting My Age [1981] Shout [7″ single, 1984]
The Belle Stars: Sign of the Times [7″ single, 1983]
Thompson Twins: Quickstep and Sidekick [1983] Into the Gap [1984] A Product of … Participation [1981] Set [1982] Lies [7″ single, 1982]
Eurythmics: Touch [1983] Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) [1983] Be Yourself Tonight [1985] In the Garden [1981] Who’s That Girl? [7″ single, 1983]
Kissing the Pink: Naked [1983] Certain Things Are Likely [1986] The Last Film [7″ single, 1983]
Wham!: Fantastic [1983] Wham Rap! (Enjoy What You Do?) [7″ single, 1983]
The Police: Every Breath You Take [7″ single, 1983]
Simple Minds: Waterfront [7″ single, 1983]
Cyndi Lauper: She’s So Unusual [1983] A Night to Remember [1989] Girls Just Want to Have Fun [7″ single, 1983]
Lionel Richie: Can’t Slow Down [1983] All Night Long (All Night) [7″ single, 1983]
Eddy Grant: Killer on the Rampage [1982] Can’t Get Enough [1981] Electric Avenue [7″ single, 1983; written in part about the 1981 Brixton race riots]
Joan Armatrading The Key [1983] Drop the Pilot [7″ single, 1983]
Rick Springfield: Human Touch [7″ single, 1983; I recently re-watched all 100 episodes of âThe Six Million Dollar Manâ and all 60 episodes of âThe Bionic Womanâ ⊠yes, itâs not only music from the 1970s that I like, itâs films, television, fashions too ⊠anyway, saddo that I am, I recognised Rick working as an actor in a 1977 episode of âThe Six Million Dollar Manâ, and also in a 1978 story from âBattlestar Galacticaâ, and two from the late â70s âWonder Womanâ T.V. series]
Billy Joel: Uptown Girl [7″ single, 1983; the lady in the video is Christie Brinkley, who was one of the worldâs best known supermodels at this time]
Carmel: The Drum Is Everything [1984] Everybody’s Got a Little … Soul [1987] Bad Day [7″ single, 1983; with a superb live vocal by Carmel McCourt]
Wang Chung: Dance Hall Days [7″ single, 1983; both upbeat and sad, I considered adding this to my Top Seventeen list at the top of this page; likewise âSign of the Timesâ by The Belle Stars, âTemptationâ by Heaven 17, âI Donât Need to Tell Herâ by The Lurkers, and a song that doesnât appear on this page until now: âGary Gilmoreâs Eyesâ by The Adverts; 7â single 1977]
New Order: Confusion [12″ single, 1983]
Peter Schilling: Error in the System [1983] Major Tom (Coming Home) [12″ single, 1983]
Missing Persons: Walking in L.A. [7″ single, 1983; recorded live at the U.S. Festival]
Spandau Ballet: True [l.p, 1983] Parade [1984] Gold [7″ single, 1983]
U2: War [1983] The Joshua Tree [1987] Sunday Bloody Sunday [live, 1983; from the concert film and V.H.S. & Betamax videocassette âLive at Red Rocks: Under a Blood Red Skyâ; originally from âWarâ, as is my favourite song by U2: New Year’s Day; 7″ single, 1983; with flickering explosion effects]
White Door: Windows [1983]
A Flock of Seagulls: Listen [1983] A Flock of Seagulls [1982] Wishing (If I Had a Photograph of You) [7″ single, 1982]
Fun Boy Three: Waiting [1983] The Colourfield: Virgins and Philistines [1985]
Bonnie Tyler: Total Eclipse of the Heart [7″ single, 1983]
Cabaret Voltaire: The Crackdown [1983] Micro-Phonies [1984] Drinking Gasoline e.p. [1985]
Kajagoogoo: White Feathers [1983] Islands [1984] Too Shy [7″ single, 1983]
Anne Clark: Changing Places [1983]
Central Line: Nature Boy [7″ single, 1983]
Blue Zoo: Two by Two [1983]
Tracey Ullman: Breakaway [7″ single, 1983]
Nick Heyward: North of a Miracle [1983]
Tracie: Far from the Hurting Kind [1984] The House That Jack Built [7″ single, 1983]
Paul Haig: Rhythm of Life [1983]
Altered Images: Pinky Blue [1982] Happy Birthday [l.p., 1981] Bite [1983] Mascara Streakz [2022] Don’t Talk to Me about Love [7″ single, 1983]
Herbie Hancock: Future Shock [1983] Sound-System [1984]
Paul Young: No Parlez [1983] The Secret of Association [1985] Love of the Common People [7″ single, 1983; with flash photography effects]
Nona Hendryx: Nona [1983]
Mary Jane Girls: Mary Jane Girls [1983] Only Four You [1985] All Night Long [7″ single, 1983]
The Glove: Blue Sunshine [1983]
Big Country: The Crossing [1983] Steeltown [1984] In a Big Country [7″ single, 1983; after a couple of stomping chart hits this year, in late summer, Big Country released a much more reflective single, which is probably my favourite by the group: Chance]
Pulsallama: Pulsallama [2020; live studio recording from 1983]
Irene Cara: Flashdance … What a Feeling [7″ single, 1983; from the movie âFlashdanceâ; Irene also had an unexpected U.K. #1 the previous year in 1982 with her fantastic theme from another film: âFameâ; rest in peace, beautiful Irene]
René & Angela: Rise [1983]
The Rock Steady Crew: (Hey You) The Rock Steady Crew [7″ single, 1983; strobe lights feature prominently in this clip, including an extended strobe section starting at 2.53 minutes until end]
The Farmer’s Boys: Get out and Walk [1983]
Heaven 17: Crushed by the Wheels of Industry [7″ single, 1983; communism set to music]
Mtume: Juicy Fruit [1983]
ABC: That Was Then but This Is Now [7″ single, 1983; flickering video effect starting at 3.16 minutes until end]
Re-Flex: The Politics of Dancing [1983]
Men without Hats: Rhythm of Youth [1982] The Safety Dance [7″ single, 1983]
Syreeta: The Spell [1983]
Rufus & Chaka Khan: Ain’t Nobody [7″ single, 1983]
ZZ Top: Eliminator [1983]
The Pointer Sisters: Break Out [1983] So Excited![1982] Automatic [12″ single, 1984]
Culture Club: Colour by Numbers [1983] Kissing to Be Clever [1982]
S.O.S. Band: Just Be Good to Me [7″ single, 1983]
Divinyls: Desperate [1983]
Madonna: Madonna [1983] Like a Virgin [1984] True Blue [1986] Ray of Light [l.p., 1998; with frequent flashing images] Beautiful Stranger [5″ c.d.s., 1999]
Billy Bragg: Life’s a Riot with Spy vs Spy e.p. [1983] Between the Wars e.p. [1985] Brewing Up with Billy Bragg [1984]
Xmal Deutschland: Fetisch [1983] Tocsin [1984] Viva [1987] Devils [1989] Incubus Succubus II [7″ single, 1983; flickering, super-damaged V.H.S. transfer]
Xmal Deutschland [ii]: Mondlicht [from “Tocsin”; translates to ‘moonlight’] Augen-blick [from “Tocsin”; translates to ‘constantly’ or ‘at any time’]
Gleaming Spires: Walk on Well Lighted Streets [1983]
Depeche Mode: Construction Time Again [1983] Some Great Reward [1984] Black Celebration [1986] Music for the Masses [1987] Violator [1990] Playing the Angel [2005] Speak & Spell [1981] A Broken Frame [1982] Ultra [1997] Love, in Itself (Part Two) [7″ single, 1983]
Depeche Mode [ii]: New Life [7″ single, 1981; with flickering oscilloscope effects; this is Depeche Modeâs first appearance on Top of the Pops; within three years, the group will go from bouncy to glum: Blasphemous Rumours; 7″ single, 1984; the lyrics of âBlasphemous Rumoursâ discuss suicide from the point-of-view of a mother who is angry at God for having let her daughter die; as such, self-harm is a prominent theme, and also some of the song-words may upset a person with strong religious conviction]
R.e.m.: Murmer [1983] Reckoning [1984] Fables of the Reconstruction [1985] Life’s Rich Pageant [1986] Document [1987] Green [1988] Out of Time [1991]
The Smiths: The Smiths [1984] The Queen Is Dead [l.p., 1986; with frequent flashing images throughout this short film, and strong suicide references in the lyrics to the second of three songs starting at 6.27 until 10.28 minutes] Strangeways, Here We Come [1987] Louder than Bombs [1987; U.S. B-sides compilation] How Soon Is Now? [7″ single, 1985]
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions: Rattlesnakes [l.p., 1984] Easy Pieces [1985] Lloyd Cole [1990] Don’t Get Weird on Me Babe [1991] Perfect Skin [7″ single, 1984; with strobes starting at 2.28 minutes for six seconds]
Echo & The Bunnymen: Ocean Rain [1984] Crocodiles [1980] Porcupine [1983] Echo & The Bunnymen [1987] Ian McCulloch: Candleland [1989] Never Stop [7″ single, 1983]
Frank Chickens: We Are Frank Chickens [1984]
Bangles: All over the Place [1984] Different Light [1986] Everything [1988] Sweetheart of the Sun [2011] Bangles e.p. [1982] Manic Monday [7″ single, 1986]
Prince & The Revolution: Purple Rain [1984] 1999 [l.p., 1982] Controversy [1981] Dirty Mind [1980] Prince [1979] Parade [1986] Sign “âźïž” the Times [1987] Raspberry Beret [7″ single, 1985]
Sheila E.: The Glamorous Life [l.p., 1984] Romance 1600 [1985] Sheila E. [1987] A Love Bizarre [7″ single, 1985]
Malaria!: Compiled 1981-84 [2001; Malaria!’s early vinyl-only releases issued on CD]
Howard Jones: Human’s Lib [1984] Dream into Action [1985] What Is Love? [7″ single, 1983; Howardâs music combines the latest electronics of the day with philosophical lyrics that reflect his Buddhist beliefs]
Sade: Diamond Life [1984] Promise [1985] Stronger than Pride [1988] Your Love Is King [7″ single, 1984]
Nik Kershaw: Human Racing [l.p., 1984] The Riddle [l.p, 1984] Dancing Girls [7″ single, 1984]
Krystol: Gettin’ Ready [1984]
Bryan Adams: Reckless [1984] Run to You [7″ single, 1984]
S.P.K.: Machine Age Voodoo [1984] Metal Dance [7″ single, 1983]
Kim Wilde: Teases & Dares [1984] Another Step [1986] Kids in America [7″ single, 1981; complex repeating patterns during the first and last 10 seconds]
The Icicle Works: The Icicle Works [1984]
Alison Moyet: Alf [1984] The Minutes [2013] Other [2017] Love Resurrection [7″ single, 1984; Alisonâs first solo single after Yazoo]
Billy Idol: Greatest Hits [2001] Eyes without a Face [7″ single, 1984]
Shannon: Let the Music Play [l.p., 1984] Do You Wanna Get Away? [1985] Sash! featuring Shannon: Move Mania [5â c.d.s., 1998; with flickering time-lapse images]
Sylvester: M-1015 [1984]
Laura Branigan: Self Control [7″ single, 1984; also love Gloria from 1982; with flashing mirror ball effects]
Fiction Factory: (Feels Like) Heaven [7″ single, 1984]
Captain Sensible: Glad It’s All Over [7″ single, 1984]
The Mighty WAH!: A Word to the Wise Guy [1984]
Nena: Nena [1983] Fragezeichen [1984] 99 Red Balloons [7″ single, 1984; English translation of “99 Luftballons, which was a Europe-wide hit a year earlier in 1983; Gabriele Kerner â„]
Alphaville: Forever Young [1984] Afternoons in Utopia [1986] Big in Japan [7″ single, 1984]
David Sylvian: Brilliant Trees [1984] Secrets of the Beehive [1987] Forbidden Colours [7″ single, 1983; with Ryuichi Sakamoto]
The Higsons: The Curse of The Higsons [1984]
Blancmange: Donât Tell Me [7″ single, 1984]
The Stranglers: Skin Deep [7″ single, 1984; anti-heroin message somewhat lost among the party hats and podium dancers in this clip]
Level 42: Hot Water [7″ single, 1984]
Dali’s Car: The Waking Hour [1984]
Thompson Twins: Lay Your Hands on Me [7″ single, December 1984; this is how the group looked and sounded at the start of the year: Doctor! Doctor!]
Bananarama: Bananarama [1984] Drama [2005] Viva [2009] In Stereo [2019] Masquerade [2022] Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) [7″ single, 1983]
Red Guitars: Slow to Fade [1984] Good Technology [7″ single, 1983]
Indians in Moscow: Indians in Moscow [1984]
Maria Vidal: Body Rock [7″ single, 1984]
Dead or Alive: Sophisticated Boom Boom [1984] Youthquake [1985] You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) [7″ single, 1984; with flashing mirror ball effects]
Billy Ocean: Suddenly [l.p., 1984] Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run) [7â single, 1984; with LASER effects and an extended strobe section starting at 2.30 minutes until 3.02]
Swans Way: The Fugitive Kind [1984]
Alvin Stardust: I Won’t Run Away [7″ single, 1984; relatively rare to hear a pop song about the subject of commitment in a relationship; in the 1970s, Alvin helped to keep a generation of children safe while crossing the road]
Cocteau Twins: Garlands [1982] Head over Heels [1983] Treasure [1984] Pearly Dewdrops’ Drops [7″ single, 1984]
This Mortal Coil: Song to the Siren [7″ single, 1983; Elizabeth Fraser sings with Cocteau Twins]
Prefab Sprout: Swoon [1984] Steve McQueen [1985]
BBC News 1984-10-23: this is Michael Buerk’s television news report about the famine affecting Ethiopia; among the millions watching were The Boomtown Ratsâ singer Bob Geldof and his partner, music journalist Paula Yates, who were both galvanised into action: within six weeks, Band Aid’s single was written (together with Midge Ure from Ultravox), recorded and mixed in 24 hours with about 40 of the best known musicians of the time, and in the shops for the public to buy; Bobâs original aim was to raise about ÂŁ70,000 for famine relief, but instead the single raised over ÂŁ8 millions, with a further ÂŁ150 millions generated the following year at the Live Aid concerts]
Band Aid: Do They Know It’s Christmas? [7″ single, 1984; this was #1 for five weeks over Christmas, and was for many years the highest-selling single in the U.K. with 3.8 millions sold, a record it held until 1997; it was #1 in at least 16 countries around the world; if you have been watching some of the videos on this page, you may have already seen many of the faces in the crowd: Jody Watley, Duran Duran, Bananarama, Paul Young, Spandau Ballet, George Michael from Wham!, Midge Ure and Chris Cross from Ultravox, Glenn Gregory and Martyn Ware from Heaven 17, Bono and Adam Clayton from U2, Paul Weller ex of The Jam, and Sting ex of The Police]
Band Aid [ii]: The Story of the Official Band Aid Video [videocassette, 1984; this behind-the-scenes film has footage from Sarm West recording studio and interviews with some of the participants; part of the legacy of Band Aid is it inspired a generation of musicians to become involved in activism, such as U.S.A. for Africa, Artists United Against Apartheid, Amnesty Internationalâs ‘A Conspiracy of Hope’ tour, and later its The Human Rights Concerts, and Dionne Warwick’s taboo-breaking U.S. #1 raising money for AIDS research: That’s What Friends Are For; 7″ single, 1985]
Fiat Lux: Hired History [1984]
Propaganda: A Secret Wish [1985] Outside World [2002; remixes and B-sides from 1984-85] Noise and Girls Come Out to Play [2012; remixes and B-sides from 1984-85] Act: Laughter, Tears and Rage [1988] Claudia BrĂŒcken: Love: And a Million Other Things [1991] Beginn [2018] Onetwo: Instead [2007] p:Machinery [7″ single, 1985]
Scritti Politti: Cupid and Psyche ’85 [1985] Provision [1988] Hypnotize [7″ single, 1984]
Haywoode: Arrival [1985] Roses: Remixes & Rarities [2018] Roses [7″ single, 1985; Sharon Haywoode â„]
Ruth: PolaroĂŻd/Roman/Photo [1985]
Suzanne Vega: Suzanne Vega [1985] Solitude Standing [1986] 99.9F° [1992] Nine Objects of Desire [1996] Left of Center [7″ single, 1986]
a-ha: Hunting High and Low [1985] The Sun Always Shines on T.V. [7″ single, 1985]
Eurythmics: Sisters Are Doinâ It for Themselves [7″ single, 1985; duet with Aretha Franklin]
The Power Station: The Power Station [1985]
Level 42: World Machine [1985] Running in the Family [1987] Standing in the Light [1983] True Colours [1984] The Pursuit of Accidents [1982] The Sun Goes Down (Livin’ It Up) [7″ single, 1983]
The Jesus and Mary Chain: Psychocandy [1985] Darklands [1987] Automatic [1989]
Princess: Princess [1985] Say I’m Your Number 1 [7″ single, 1985]
New Model Army: No Rest for the Wicked [1985] Vengeance [1984] The Ghost of Cain [1986] Thunder & Consolation [1989]
King: Bitter Sweet [1985] Steps in Time [1984] Love & Pride [7″ single, 1984; better still: The Taste of Your Tears; 7â single, 1985]
Sting: The Dream of the Blue Turtles [1985] … Nothing like the Sun [1987]
Mai Tai: History [7″ single, 1985]
Delmonas: Dangerous Charms [1985]
The Cult: Love [1985] Electric [1987] Sonic Temple [1989] She Sells Sanctuary [7″ single, 1985; from the same year: Rain]
AndrĂ© Cymone: A.C. [1985] Livin’ in the New Wave [1982]
The Damned: The Shadow of Love [7″ single, 1985]
Cherrelle: High Priority [1985] Fragile [1984]
Jennifer Rush: The Power of Love [7″ single, 1985; Jennifer is the first woman in British chart history to attain a million-selling single; âThe Power of Loveâ is co-written by Jennifer, and is the highest-selling single of the year, and the ninth best-selling of the entire decade]
The Dazz Band: Hot Spot [1985]
Marillion: Fugazi [1984] Kayleigh [7″ single, 1985]
Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms [1985] Dire Straits [1978] Communiqué [1979]
Big Audio Dynamite: This Is Big Audio Dynamite [1985] No. 10, Upping St. [1986] E=MC2 [7″ single, 1985]
The Style Council: Our Favourite Shop [1985] The Singular Adventures of The Style Council [1989]
Colonel Abrams: Trapped [7″ single, 1985]
Fine Young Cannibals: Fine Young Cannibals [1985] The Raw & the Cooked [1989]
Strawberry Switchblade: Strawberry Switchblade [1985] Since Yesterday [7″ single, 1984; with flickering images]
‘Til Tuesday: Voices Carry [1985]
Duran Duran: A View to a Kill [live, 1985; angry performance of the current U.S. #1 single, raising funds to fight famine in Africa at the first Live Aid; the group was fragmented into two disparate factions at this time, and in fact two members left over the next twelve months: this is the last performance of the original line-up for nearly twenty years]
Latin Quarter: Modern Times [1985]
Erasure: Wonderland [1986] The Circus [l.p., 1987] The Innocents [1988] Wild! [1989] Chorus [l.p., 1991] I Say I Say I Say [1994] Oh l’amour [7″ single, 1986; the moody figure playing synths in these videos is Vince Clarke, who was once Depeche Modeâs main songwriter until he left the group after its first album to create a new duo with Alison Moyet called Yazoo, who made three of my favourite singles of 1982-83; this is the third, Yazooâs debut single: Only You; 7″ single, 1982]
Pet Shop Boys: Please [1986] Actually [1987] Behaviour [1990] Disco [remixes of first four singles and two B-sides, 1986] Heart [7″ single, 1988; my favourite P.S.B. single; if you listen to just one album from 1986, try âPleaseâ]
The Blow Monkeys: Animal Magic [1986] She Was Only a Grocer’s Daughter [1987]
The The: Infected [1986] Mindbomb [1989] Soul Mining [1983] Uncertain Smile [7″ single, 1983]
Stan Ridgway: The Big Heat [1986] Camouflage [7″ single, 1986]
Katrina and the Waves: Waves [1986] Katrina and the Waves II [1984] Walking on Sunshine [1983]
Peter Gabriel: So [1986] Peter Gabriel III [1980] Peter Gabriel IV [1982] Peter Gabriel [1977] Games without Frontiers [7″ single, 1980; with almost undetectable backing vocals by Kate Bush, who is heard much more prominently on this disc from 1986: Donât Give Up]
Bruce Hornsby & The Range: The Way It Is [7″ single, 1986]
Dee C. Lee: Shrine [1986]
Five Star: Silk & Steel [1986] Luxury of Life [1985] The Slightest Touch [7″ single, 1987; with flickering plasma effects]
Anita Baker: Rapture [1986]
World Party: Ship of Fools [7″ single, 1986]
Go West: Go West [1986]
Vicious Pink: Vicious Pink [1986] West View [2022; compilation of early vinyl releases and demos recorded circa 1982-85] Take Me Now [7″ single, 1986; Vicious Pink Phenomena (the groupâs original name) may be somewhat well known to fans of Soft Cell, as Josephine and Brian sang backing vocals on Soft Cellâs debut album âNon-Stop Erotic Cabaretâ, including on songs such as âEntertain Meâ and âChips on My Shoulderâ]
Donna Allen: Perfect Timing [1986]
Furniture: The Wrong People [1986] Brilliant Mind [7″ single, 1986]
Paul Simon: Graceland [1986]
Stacey Q: Better than Heaven [1986] Two of Hearts [7″ single, 1986]
That Petrol Emotion: Manic Pop Thrill [1986]
Janet Jackson: Control [1986] Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 [l.p., 1989; with strobe effects] The Velvet Rope [1997] The Pleasure Principle [7″ single, 1987]
Run-DMC: Raising Hell [1986] Run-DMC [1984]
Steve Winwood: Back in the High Life [1986] Roll with It [1988] Arc of a Diver [1980] Higher Love [7″ single, 1986; Steve’s daughter, Lilly Winwood, recorded her own version of “Higher Love”, together with her father playing piano and singing backing vocals; for me, the true beauty of the song is revealed for the first time in Lilly’s version]
Hipsway: Hipsway [1986]
Doctor & The Medics: Spirit in the Sky [7″ single, 1986; with complex repeating patterns]
Koo DĂ© Tah: Koo DĂ© Tah [1986]
We’ve Got a Fuzzbox and We’re Gonna Use It: Bostin’ Steve Austin [1986] Fuzzbox: Big Bang! [1989] International Rescue [7″ single, 1989; Fuzzbox also recorded a typically unparalleled, one-of-a-kind interpretation of Spirit in the Sky]
Julian Cope: Saint Julian [1987] My Nation Underground [1988] Peggy Suicide [1991] Interpreter [1996] Jehovahkill [1992] World Shut Your Mouth [1984] Fried [1984]
The Sisters of Mercy: Floodland [1987] First and Last and Always [1985] Vision Thing [1990] Some Girls Wander by Mistake [1992; compilation of early singles and e.p.s from 1980-83] Lucretia, My Reflection [7â single, 1988; still my favourite: Temple of Love; 7″ single, 1983]
The Pastels: Up for a Bit With … [1987]
Belinda Carlisle: The Best of Belinda, Volume 1 [1992; recorded 1987-91] Heaven Is a Place on Earth [7″ single, 1987]
Joyce Sims: Come into My Life [1987]
Swing out Sister: It’s Better to Travel [1987] Surrender [7″ single, 1987]
Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction: Tattooed Beat Messiah [1987] … High Priest of Love [1986] I Am Rock [2002]
Pebbles: Pebbles [1987] Mercedes Boy [7″ single, 1988; with flash photography effects; Perri Arlette Reid â„]
George Michael: Faith [1987] Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 [1990] Older [1996]
Midnight Oil: Diesel and Dust [1987] Beds Are Burning [7″ single, 1987]
Pepsi & Shirlie: All Right Now [1987]
Scarlet Fantastic: No Memory [unreleased demo, 1986; with strobe effects; to my ears, the groupâs original demo is much punchier than the re-recorded 7″ mix that was a top thirty hit eventually, a year later]
Black: Wonderful Life [1987]
Hue & Cry: Seduced and Abandoned [1987] Labour of Love [7″ single, 1987; one of several anti-Margaret Thatcher anthems on this page, such as âNever Stopâ by Echo & The Bunnymen, âPills and Soapâ by The Imposter a.k.a. Elvis Costello, and also most of the lyrics during the verses of âShoutâ by Tears for Fears]
Exposé: Exposure [1987]
Mel & Kim: F.L.M. [1987] Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend) [7″ single, 1986; Mel died far too young at 23 due to pneumonia as a complication of her cancer treatment; together with her sister, Kim, she achieved a U.K. #1 with her next single: Respectable; 7â single, 1987]
Public Image Ltd.: Happy? [1987] Compact Disc [1986]
SinĂ©ad O’Connor: The Lion and the Cobra [1987] Fire on Babylon [7″ single, 1994; after SinĂ©adâs recent death, I was reminded of a song she recorded in 1992 with Jah Wobble, who once played bass with Public Image Ltd., called Visions of You; this wasnât a big hit (#35), but is one of my favourites of the year]
The Christians: The Christians [1987]
Jody Watley: Jody Watley [1987] Larger than Life [1989] Still a Thrill [7″ single, 1987]
Living in a Box: Living in a Box [1987] Gatecrashing [1989]
Tiffany: I Think We’re Alone Now [7″ single, 1987; Tiffany was only sixteen when this became a U.S. and U.K. #1 in 1987 and 1988; she built her initial fanbase by playing mini-concerts at shopping malls across America; 32 yearsâ later, Tiffany recorded a new version of her song, which I like even better: I Think We’re Alone Now; streaming single, 2019]
Wet Wet Wet: Popped in Souled Out [1987]
Westworld: Where the Action Is [1987] Sick Cool [2018] Sonic Boom Boy [7″ single, 1987]
Curiosity Killed the Cat: Keep Your Distance [1987]
M|A|R|R|S: Pump Up the Volume [7″ single, 1987]
Wendy & Lisa: Wendy & Lisa [1987] Fruit at the Bottom [1989] Eroica [1990]
The Adventures: The Sea of Love [1988] Broken Land [7″ single, 1988; The Adventures is a group from Northern Ireland, here writing about its experience of The Troubles]
Pixies: Surfer Rosa [1988] Doolittle [1989]
The Primitives: Lovely [1988] Pure [1989] Spin-o-rama [2014] Crash [7″ single, 1988; my favourite single by The Primitives is Sick of It; 7â single, 1989]
The Mission: Children [1988] God’s Own Medicine [1986]
All about Eve: All about Eve [1988] Scarlet and Other Stores [1989] Ultraviolet [1992] Martha’s Harbour [7″ single, 1988; with an electrifying live vocal by Julianne Regan; All about Eve also has a rockier side, which when combined with Julianneâs poetic lyrics creates a really unique sound: Road to Your Soul; 7″ single, 1989]
Was (Not Was): What Up, Dog? [1988]
Enya: Orinoco Flow [7″ single, 1988]
Voice of the Beehive: Let It Bee [1988] Honey Lingers [1991]
Tanita Tikaram: Ancient Heart [1988] Twist in My Sobriety [7″ single, 1988]
The Proclaimers: Sunshine on Leith [1988] This Is the Story [1987]
Eighth Wonder: Fearless [1988] I’m Not Scared [7″ single, 1988; written and produced by Pet Shop Boys, who also recorded the song later in the year on the âIntrospective” album]
Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman [1988] Crossroads [1989]
Jane Wiedlin: Fur [1988] Rush Hour [7″ single, 1988; another adorable ex-member of The Go-Go’s; Jane is the co-writer of âOur Lips Are Sealedâ with Terry Hall of Fun Boy Three; both groups recorded a version of the song, one bright and cheery, the other much more subdued]
The Wedding Present: George Best [1988] Bizarro [1989]
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians: Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars [1988] Ghost of a Dog [1990] What I Am [7″ single, 1988]
The Sugarcubes: Life’s Too Good [1988]
Martika: Martika [1988] Martika’s Kitchen [1991] I Feel the Earth Move [7″ single, 1989]
Johnny Hates Jazz: Turn Back the Clock [1988]
Ofra Haza: Shaday [1988] Desert Wind [1989] Im Nin’alu [7″ single, 1988]
The Bolshoi: Country Life [1988]
Fairground Attraction: Perfect [7″ single, 1988]
Mica Paris: So Good [1988]
Yazz & The Plastic Population: Wanted [1988] The Only Way Is Up [7″ single, 1988]
Everything but the Girl: Idlewild [1988]
Neneh Cherry: Raw like Sushi [1989] Homebrew [1992] Manchild [7″ single, 1989]
Matrimony: Kitty Finger [1989]
The Stone Roses: The Stone Roses [1989] Turns into Stone [1992, early non-album singles and B-sides, recorded 1988-90] Fools Gold [7″ single, 1989]
Nine Inch Nails: Pretty Hate Machine [1989] The Downward Spiral [1994] Hesitation Marks [2013]
Transvision Vamp: Velveteen [1989] Pop Art [1988] Little Magnets versus the Bubble of Babble [1991] Baby I Don’t Care [7″ single, 1989]
David Byrne: Rei Momo [1989]
The Darling Buds: Pop Said [1989] Crawdaddy [1990] You’ve Got to Choose [7″ single, 1989]
Desireless: François [1989]
Paula Abdul: Straight Up [7″ single, 1989]
Inner City: Paradise [1989]
The Beloved: Happiness [1990] Conscience [1993] Hello [7″ single, 1990; with strobe effects; hello to a new decade]
Joe Strummer: Earthquake Weather [1989] Global a Go-Go [2001]
Electribe 101: Electribal Memories [1990] Electribal Soul [2022] Tell Me When the Fever Ended [7″ single, 1989]
Inspiral Carpets: Life [1990] Revenge of the Goldfish [1992]
Alannah Myles: Black Velvet [7″ single, 1990]
The Charlatans: Some Friendly [1990] Up to Our Hips [1994]
Cathy Dennis: Move to This [1990] Touch Me (All Night Long) [7″ single, 1991; with flashing images for the first 10 seconds]
River City People: Say Something Good [1990] This Is the World [1991]
Blue Pearl: Naked [1990] Naked in the Rain [7″ single, 1990; Blue Pearl is singer Durga McBroom, and Youth, who plays bass with Killing Joke; (Can You) Feel the Passion?; 7″ single, 1991]
Deee-lite: World Clique [1990] Infinity Within [1992]
Betty Boo: Boomania [1990] Grrr! It’s Betty Boo [1992] 24 Hours [7″ single, 1990]
James: Gold Mother [1990] Strip-Mine [1988]
ZoĂ«: Sunshine on a Rainy Day [7″ single, 1991]
Seal: Seal [1991] Seal [1994]
Nirvana: Nevermind [1991] In Utero [1993] MTV Unplugged in New York [1994] Lithium [7″ single, 1992; with strobe effects]
Spin Doctors: Pocket Full of Kryptonite [1991]
Sophie B. Hawkins: Tongues and Tails [1992] Whaler [1994] Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover [7″ single, 1992]
Annie Lennox: Diva [1992]
Rozalla: Everybody’s Free [l.p., 1992; with strobes and LASER effects] Look No Further [1994] Are You Ready to Fly? [7″ single, 1992; flickering video effects for first eight seconds]
The Astronauts: Upfront and Sideways [1992]
PJ Harvey: Dry [1992] To Bring You My Love [1995] Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea [2000] Rid of Me [l.p., 1993] 4-Track Demos [1993] Is This Desire? [1998] Good Fortune [5″ c.d.s., 2000]
Morrissey: Your Arsenal [1992] Kill Uncle [1991] Viva Hate [1988] Southpaw Grammar [1995] You Are the Quarry [2004] Bona Drag [1990]
Des’ree: Mind Adventures [1992] I Ain’t Movin’ [l.p., 1994; with occasional text flash-frames] Supernatural [1998] Feel So High [7″ single, 1992; always beautiful spiritual music from Des’ree; You Gotta Be; live, 1998]
Paul Weller: Paul Weller [1992] Wild Wood [1993] Stanley Road [1995]
Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes [1992] Under the Pink [1994] Boys for Pele [1996] From the Choirgirl Hotel [1998] Past the Mission [7″ single, 1994]
The Lightning Seeds: Sense [1992] Cloudcuckooland [1990] Jollification [1994]
En Vogue: Funky Divas [1992] Born to Sing [1990] EV3 [1997] My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)
[7″ single, 1992]
Daniel Ash: Foolish Thing Desire [1992] Coming Down [1991] Freedom I Love [2017]
Vanessa Williams: Save the Best for Last [7″ single, 1992]
Jade: Jade to the Max [1992]
Kingmaker: Sleepwalking [1993] Eat Yourself Whole [1991] In the Best Possible Taste [1995] Everything Changed 1991-95 [2020, all three albums, plus radio sessions, and many B-sides] Ten Years Asleep [7″ single, 1993]
Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton [1993] Secrets [1996]
The Cranberries: Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? [1993] No Need to Argue [1994] To the Faithful Departed [1996] Bury the Hatchet [1999] Wake Up and Smell the Coffee [2001] Zombie [7″ single, 1994]
Juliana Hatfield: Become What You Are [1993] Only Everything [1995] Julia’s Pony: Total System Failure [2000] Some Girls: Feel It [2003] Crushing Love [2006]
Blur: Modern Life Is Rubbish [1993] Parklife [1994] The Great Escape [1995] Leisure [1991] There’s No Other Way [7″ single, 1991; strobe effects from 3:07 to end; incidentally, my favourite ever recording by Blur is a long-lost B-side, the Beagle 2 Remix of “Far Out”]
Oasis: Definitely Maybe [1993] (Whatâs the Story) Morning Glory? [1995] Be Here Now [1997] Standing on the Shoulder of Giants [2000] Familiar to Millions [live, 2000]
Gabrielle: Dreams [7″ single, 1993]
Slant 6: Soda Pop * Rip Off [1994] Inzombia [1995]
Liz Phair: Whip-Smart [1994] Juvenilia [1995] Exile from Guyville [1993] Whitechocolatespaceegg [1998] Liz Phair [2003] Somebody’s Miracle [2005] Soberish [2021] Supernova [7″ single, 1994; with strobe effects; as you can probably guess, the censored word from the second verse is “f#!*”]
Portishead: Dummy [1994] Portishead [1997] Third [2008]
N-Trance: Set You Free [7″ single, 1994]
Echobelly: Everyone’s Got One [1994] On [1995]
Garbage: Garbage [1995] Version 2.0 [1998] Only Happy When It Rains [5″ c.d.s., 1995]
Hole: Live Through This [1994] Celebrity Skin [1998]
Elastica: Elastica [1995; this is my favourite album of the Britpop era] Connection [7″ single, 1994; from the following year: Waking Up]
Joan Osborne: Relish [1995]
Salad: Drink Me [1995] Ice Cream [1997] Singles Bar [1995] Motorbike to Heaven [live, 1995; this is my favourite single of the Britpop era]
Fiona Apple: Tidal [1995] When the Pawn Hits … [1999] The Idler Wheel … [2012]
Sleeper: Smart [1995] The It Girl [1996] Pleased to Meet You [1997] The Modern Age [2019] Inbetweener [live, 1995]
Ash: 1977 [1995] Free All Angels [2001]
Helium: The Dirt of Luck [1995] The Magic City [1997] Pirate Prude e.p., [1994] No Guitars e.p. [1997] Superball [5″ c.d.s., 1995]
Throwing Muses: University [1995] Limbo [1996]
Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill [1995] Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie [1998] So-Called Chaos [2004] Head over Feet [5″ c.d.s., 1996]
The Corrs: Forgiven, Not Forgotten [1995] Talk on Corners [1997] In Blue [2000]
Klark Kent (a.k.a. Stewart Copeland, who plays drums with The Police): Kollected Works [1995; recorded 1978-86] Don’t Care [7″ single, 1978; that’s Sting on bass guitar wearing a gorilla mask!]
Menswear: Nuisance [1995]
Sneaker Pimps: Becoming X [1996] Bloodsport [2002] Splinter [1999] 6 Underground [5″ c.d.s., 1996]
Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow [1996] The Globe Sessions [1998] C’mon C’mon [2002] Wildflower [2005]
Lush: Lovelife [1996] Split [1994] Spooky [1992] Scar [1989] Topolino [1998, B-sides compilation] 500 (Shake Baby Shake) [5″ c.d.s., 1996; Lush had two singles that reached #21 this year; this is the first, from January: Single Girl; 5″ c.d.s., 1996; with some camera flashes]
Kula Shaker: K [1996] Peasents, Pigs & Astronauts [1999]
All Saints: All Saints [1997] Saints & Sinners [2000] Studio 1 [2006] I Know Where It’s At [5″ c.d.s., 1997; third of five British number ones: Pure Shores]
Mariah Carey: Butterfly [1997] MTV Unplugged e.p. [1992]
Olive: Extra Virgin [1997] You’re Not Alone [5″ c.d.s., 1997]
The Donnas: American Teenage Rock ‘n’ Roll Machine [1998] Spend the Night [2002] Gold Medal [2004]
Destiny’s Child: Destiny’s Child [1998] The Writing’s on the Wall [1999] Survivor [2002] BeyoncĂ©: Dangerously in Love [2003] B-Day [2006] I Am … Sasha Fierce [2008] Independent Women (Part One) [5″ c.d.s., 2000]
The Cardigans: Gran Turismo [1998] Super Extra Gravity [2005] Long Before Daylight [2003]
Shania Twain: That Don’t Impress Me Much [5″ c.d.s., 1998; the Dance Mix that was a single in the U.K. and elsewhere internationally is by far my preferred version]
Rocky Sharpe & The Replays: Looking for an Echo [1999; recorded 1978-84]
B*Witched: C’est la vie [5″ c.d.s., 1998; ultimate guilty pleasure]
Suede: Head Music [1999] Coming Up [1996] Suede [1993] Dog Man Star [1994] Sci-fi Lullabies [1997; B-sides compilation]
Wamdue Project: King of My Castle [5″ c.d.s., 1999]
Kelis: Kaleidoscope [1999] Tasty [2003]
Nelly Furtado: Whoa, Nelly! [2000] Loose [2006] Turn Off the Light [5″ c.d.s., 2000]
Freezepop: Freezepop Forever [2000] Future Future Future Perfect [2007] Fancy Ultra-fresh [2004] Imaginary Friends [2010] Fantasizer [2020]
Mary Timony: Mountains [2000] Wild Flag [2011, as a member of the group Wild Flag] Autoclave [1997, as a member of the group Autoclave] Itâs Real [2019, with Ex Hex] Rips [2014, with Ex Hex] Romance [live, 2011; Mary Timony is the singer and primary songwriter with the group Helium during the 90s; she often includes super-complex guitar patterns together with elements of medieval music in her songwriting for an unusual clash of ancient and modern]
P!nk: Can’t Take Me Home [2000] Missundaztood [2001] Try This [2003]
Christina Milian: Christina Milian [2001] When You Look at Me [5″ c.d.s., 2001]
Regina Spektor: 11:11 [2001] Soviet Kitsch [2003]
Shakira: Laundry Service [2001] She Wolf [2009] Whenever, Wherever [5″ c.d.s., 2001]
Hooverphonic: Hooverphonic Presents Jackie Cane [2002] The President of the LSD Golf Club [2007] A New Stereophonic Sound Spectacular [1996] The Magnificent Tree [2000] Sit Down and Listen to [2003] Blue Wonder Power Milk [1998] Geike Arnaert: For the Beauty of Confusion [2011]
Christina Aguilera: Stripped [2002] Back to Basics [2006] Bionic [2010] Fighter [5″ c.d.s., 2003]
Ms. Dynamite: A Little Deeper [2002]
Sugababes: Overloaded: The Singles Collection [2006] Round Round [5″ c.d.s., 2002; earlier this year, Sugababes sampled “Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” on the brilliant Freak like Me]
Holly Valance: Footprints [2002] State of Mind [2003]
Morcheeba: Charango [2002] Skye Edwards & Ross Godfrey: Skye | Ross [2016]
Appleton (a.k.a. Nicole and Natalie from All Saints): Fantasy [5″ c.d.s., 2003]
Butterfly Boucher: Flutterby [2003] Butterfly Boucher [2012]
CLIENT: Client [2003] Heartland [2007] Command [2009] City [2004] Zerox Machine [5″ c.d.s., 2007; with strobe effects]
ADULT.: Anxiety Always [2003] Gimmie Trouble [2005] Why Bother? [2007] The Way Things Fall [2013] Resuscitation [2001] This Behavior [2018]
Metric: Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? [2003] Fantasies [2009] Live It Out [2005] Synthetica [2012] Pagans in Vegas [2015] Art of Doubt [2018] Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton: Choir of the Mind [2017] Youth without Youth [5″ c.d.s., 2012]
Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten [2004] N.B. [2007] Strip Me [2010]
Goldfrapp: Supernature [2005] Black Cherry [2003] Head First [2010] Alison Goldfrapp: The Love Invention [2023] Ride a White Horse [5″ c.d.s., 2006]
Invisible Ballet: Escaping Light [2005]
ANNIE: Anniemal [2005] Chewing Gum [5″ c.d.s., 2005]
Ciara: The Evolution [2006] Fantasy Ride [2009] Basic Instinct [2010]
Salon Boris: I Am the Drug [2006]
Bat for Lashes: Fur & Gold [2006] Two Suns [2009]
Janelle MonĂĄe: Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase) e.p. [2007] The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III) [2010] The Electric Lady [2013] Dirty Computer [2018] Cold War [5″ c.d.s., 2010]
RĂłisĂn Murphy: Overpowered [2007]
Emmon: The Art & the Evil [2007] Closet Wanderings [2009] Nomme [2011] Distance [5″ c.d.s., 2011; with flickering film effects throughout]
Dragonette: Galore [2007] Fixin’ to Thrill [2009]
The Veronicas: Hook Me Up [2007] The Secret Life of … [2005]
Katy Perry: One of the Boys [2008] Teenage Dream [2010] Prism [2013] Hot ‘n’ Cold [5″ c.d.s., 2008]
Santigold: Santogold [2008] Master of My Make-Believe [2012]
Parralox: Electricity [2008] State of Decay [2009] Metropolis [2010] Isn’t It Strange? [5″ c.d.s., 2010]
Emily Jane White: Dark Undercoat [2008] Ode to Sentience [2010] Blood Lines [2013] They Moved in Shadow All Together [2016]
Solange Knowles: Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams [2008]
Lykke Li: Youth Novels [2008] Wounded Rhymes [2011] I Never Learn [2014]
Lady Gaga: The Fame Monster [2009] Born This Way [l.p., 2011; with strobe effects] Bad Romance [5″ c.d.s., 2009]
Noisettes: Wild Young Hearts [2009] What’s the Time, Mr. Wolf? [2007]
La Roux: La Roux [2009] Trouble in Paradise [2014] Supervision [2020] Kiss and Not Tell [5″ c.d.s., 2014; with occasional flickering television interference effects from 3.21 minutes until end]
Lily Allen: It’s Not Me, It’s You [2009] Alright Still [2006]
Ellie Goulding: Bright Lights [2010] Halcyon [2012] Delirium [2015] Brightest Blue [2020] Burn [5″ c.d.s., 2013]
Florence + The Machine: Lungs [2010] How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful [2015]
Little Boots: Hands [2010] Tomorrow’s Yesterdays [2022] Arecibo e.p. [2008] Illuminations e.p. [2009] Remedy [5″ c.d.s., 2009; with occasional rapid-editing effects; this is my favourite single of the 21st century]
Tracey Thorn: Love and Its Opposite [2010] Record [2018] Out of the Woods [2007]
Ke$ha: Animal [2010] Warrior [2012] Cannibal e.p. [2010] Take It Off [5″ c.d.s., 2010]
The Hundred in the Hands: The Hundred in the Hands [2010] Red Night [2012]
Ambra Red: Electronic Creations for Special People [2010] Oh Boy [from âElectronic Creations for Special Peopleâ; one of the best electronic albums Iâve ever heard … please make another record, Ambra Red]
Xenia Beliayeva: Ever Since [2010] Riss [2018]
Natalia Kills: Perfectionist [2011] Trouble [2013] Mirrors [5″ c.d.s., 2010]
Anna Calvi: Anna Calvi [2011] One Breath [2013]
Dum Dum Girls: Only in Dreams [2011] Too True [2014] Kristin Kontrol: X-Communicate [l.p., 2016]
Poly Styrene: Generation Indigo [2011]
Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles II (Big Day Out Edition) [2010/11] Crystal Castles III [2012] Crystal Castles [2008] Alice Practice e.p. [2006] Celestica [5″ c.d.s., 2010]
Birdy: Birdy [2011] Fire Within [2013] Beautiful Lies [2016]
Zowie: Love Demolition [2012] My Calculator [5″ c.d.s., 2012]
Lana Del Rey: Born to Die [2012] Ultraviolence [2014] Lust for Life [2017]
Linea Aspera: Linea Aspera [2012] LP II [2020] Decoherence [streaming single from “LP II”; with flickering video effects]
Def Neon: Def Neon [2013]
The Hearing: Dorian [2013] Adrian [2016] Backwards [5″ c.d.s., 2016]
Charli XCX: True Romance [2013] Sucker [2014]
Vierance: Vierance e.p. [2013] Semblance e.p. [2014] Revalation [5″ c.d.s., 2013; with strobe effects]
Nik West: Just in the Nik of Time [2013]
HAIM: Days Are Gone [2013] Something to Tell You [2017]
CHVRCHES: The Bones of What You Believe [2013] Love Is Dead [2018] Screen Violence [2021] Lies [5″ c.d.s., 2013; with strobe effects]
Tomorrow’s World: Tomorrow’s World [2013]
Brody Dalle: Diploid Love [2014] Spinnerette [2009] Don’t Mess with Me [5″ c.d.s., 2014]
TEEN: The Way & Color [2014] Love, Yes [2016]
Tove Lo: Queen of the Clouds [2014] Talking Body [5″ c.d.s., 2015; with strobe effects]
St. Vincent: St. Vincent [2014] Masseduction [2017]
Kyla La Grange: Cut Your Teeth [l.p., 2014] Ashes [2012]
Keluar: Keluar [2014] Panguna e.p. [2015]
Void Vision: Sub Rosa [2014] Shari Vari e.p. [2014] The Source [from âSub Rosaâ; with strobe effects]
Electric Youth: Innerworld [2014]
Taylor Swift: 1989 [2014] Reputation [2017] Look What You Made Me Do [5″ c.d.s., 2017; with strobe effects]
Kitten: Kitten [2014]
Gold Zebra: Gold Zebra [2014] Drift Away [5″ c.d.s., 2014]
Gazelle Twin: Unflesh [2014]
Grimes: Art Angels [2015] Visions [2012] Miss Anthropocene [2020] Oblivion [5″ c.d.s., 2012; with strobe effects]
Say Lou Lou: Lucid Dreaming [2015]
Minuit Machine: Violent Rains [2015] Live & Destroy [2014] Infrarouge [2019] 24 heures [2022] Blue Moon e.p. [2013] Agoraphobia [from âBlue Moonâ; with strobe effects]
Pale Honey: Pale Honey [2015]
Dear Rouge: Black to Gold [l.p., 2015] Phases [2018] Boys & Blondes [5″ c.d.s., 2017]
YACHT: I Thought the Future Would Be Cooler [2015] Chain Tripping [2019] See Mystery Lights [2009] Shangri-La [2011]
Meg Myers: Sorry [2015] Take Me to the Disco [2018] Make a Shadow e.p. [2014] Heart Heart Head [5″ c.d.s., 2013]
Steph Copeland: Public Panic [2015]
Teeth & Tongue: Give Up on Your Health [2016] Tambourine [2010]
Ari Mason: Creatures [2016] Neuropathy [2014] Musica Lunae [2017] Wanted: Songs of Desire e.p. [2014]
Olympia: Self Talk [2016]
Tancred: Out of the Garden [2016] Tancred [2013]
Sexy Suicide: Intruder [2016]
Savages: Adore Life [2016] Silence Yourself [2013] Husbands [from âAdore Lifeâ]
Beau: That Thing Reality [2016]
The Pirouettes: CarrĂ©ment carrĂ©ment [l.p., 2016] Monopolis [2018] L’importance des autres e.p. [2014] L’escalier [from âCarrĂ©ment carrĂ©mentâ; with strobe effects for 3 seconds starting at 2.40 to 2.43 mins; title translates to âthe staircaseâ]
Mesa: Loner [2016]
Vallens: Consent [2016] In Era [2021] Tennessee Haze [from âConsentâ; with flickering V.H.S. effects]
Sad13: Slugger [2016]
Esperanza Spalding: Emily’s D+Evolution [2016] Radio Music Society [2012]
Bleached: Welcome the Worms [2016] Ride Your Heart [2013]
AURORA: All My Demons Greeting Me as a Friend [2016]
Hollie Stephenson: Hollie Stephenson [2016]
Tarja Turunen: The Shadow Self [2016] The Brightest Void [2016]
Burning Hearts: Battlefields [2017] Extinctions [2012] Aboa Sleeping [2009] Modern Times [from âExtinctionsâ; with strobe effects; another favourite: Folie Ă deux from âBattlefieldsâ; English translation: âa madness shared by twoâ]
Adaline: Aquatic [2017] Modern Romantics [2011] Dear Illusion, [2020]
Bamboo: The Dragon Flies Away [2017] Daughters of the Sky [2019] Prince Pansori Priestess [2015] Always Running [from “The Dragon Flies Away”; with strobe effects]
Pumarosa: The Witch [2017]
Furniteur: Perfect Lavender [2017]
La FĂ©line: Triomphe [2017] Adieu l’enfance [2014]
Lorde: Melodrama [2017] Pure Heroine [2013]
Gel Set: Body Copy [2017]
Amber Coffman: City of No Reply [2017]
Charlotte Gainsbourg: Rest [2017] 5:55 [2007]
Sneaks: Itâs a Myth [2017] Gymnastics [2016]
Anna of the North: Lovers [2017] Dream Girl [2019]
EivĂžr PĂĄlsdĂłttir: SlĂžr [2017] Bridges [2015]
Chelsea Wolfe: Hiss Spun [2017] Abyss [2015]
Amy O: Elastic [2017]
Kite Base: Latent Whispers [2017] Transition [from “Latent Whispers”]
222: I’m Not Trying to Be You … [2017]
Alice Jemima: Alice Jemima [2017] Everything Changes [2020] Dodged a Bullet [from “Alice Jemima”]
My Gold Mask: Anxious Utopia [2017]
Pixx: The Age of Anxiety [2017] Small Mercies [2019] Fall In e.p. [2015] Waterslides [from “The Age of Anxiety”]
CLAVVS: World Underwater [2017] halfblood [2016] Feel It [2015] No Saviors e.p. [2019]
Mari Kattman: Stay Up [2018] Hover [2016] eat. e.p. [2020] drink. e.p. [2020] I Can’t e.p. [2021] Is It Really That Bad? e.p. [2022] In the Dark [from âStay Upâ]
Starcrawler: Starcrawler [2018]
Zaki Ibrahim: The Secret Life of Planets [2018]
Tess Roby: Beacon [2018]
L’ImpĂ©ratrice: Matahari [2018]
Anna Burch: Quit the Curse [2018]
Tiny Deaths: Magic [2018]
The Beths: Future Hates Me [2018]
New Haunts: Worlds Left Behind [2018]
Watoo Watoo: Modern Express [2018]
Wild Moccasins: Look Together [2018]
A-Vox: Not Afraid [2018]
Kellarissa: Ocean Electro [2018]
The Aces: When My Heart Felt Volcanic [2018]
Wume: Towards the Shadow [2018]
Mikaela Davis: Delivery [2018]
Vive la Void: Vive la Void [2018]
Gulp: All Good Wishes [2018]
Night Club: Scary World [2018] Requiem for Romance [2016]
Laura Carbone: Empty Sea [2018] Sirens [2015]
Mai Lan: Autopilote [2018]
Our Girl: Stranger Today [2018]
Brigitte Laverne: Wasted [2018]
The Breeders: All Nerve [2018] Cannonball [7″ single, 1993; ; with flickering video effects]
Mecha Maiko: Mad but Soft [2018]
Speedy Ortiz: Twerp Verse [2018] Foil Deer [2015]
ALEX & Megan McDuffee: Hero [2018]
Phantastic Ferniture: Phantastic Ferniture [2018]
Vital Idles: Left Hand [2018]
Tamaryn: Dreaming the Dark [2019]
Pure Bathing Culture: Night Pass [2019]
Ioanna Gika: Thalassa [2019]
Patience: Dizzy Spells [2019] Veronica Falls: Veronica Falls [2011] Waiting for Something to Happen [2013]
Blood Red Shoes: Get Tragic [2019]
Hante.: Fierce [2019] Her Fall and Rise [2014] This Fog That Never Ends [2016] Between Hope & Danger [2017]
Boy Harsher: Careful [2019] Yr Body Is Nothing [2016] Lesser Man e.p. [2014] Country Girl e.p. [2017]
Trixie Whitley: Lacuna [2019]
International Teachers of Pop: International Teachers of Pop [2019]
Billie Eilish: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? [2019] dont smile at me e.p. [2017]
Carla dal Forno: Look Up Sharp [2019] Top of the Pops [2018]
Hana: Hanadriel [2019]
Rocketship: Thanks to You [2019]
Kilo Kish: Redux [2019] Reflections in Real Time [2016] Across e.p. [2014]
Hurtling: Future from Here [2019]
Liz Lawrence: Pity Party [2019]
Amy O: Shell [2019] Elastic [2017]
Josefin Ăhrn + The Liberation: Sacred Dreams [2019] Mirage [2016]
The Bowdashes: Bouquet [2020] Grandeur [from “Bouquet”]
Retirement Party: Runaway Dog [2020]
Jetstream Pony: Jetstream Pony [2020] Worthless [from “Jetstream Pony”]
Cindy: I’m Cindy [2020]
Sorry: 925 [2020] Anywhere but Here [2022] Twixtustwain e.p. [2021] Right Round the Clock [from “925”; rapid editing effects starting at 2.04 minutes for 6 seconds; see if you can spot the two Tears for Fears album covers on display near the end of the video]
Anastasia Minster: Father [2020]
Es: Less of Everything [2020] Chemical [from “Less of Everything”]
Joy Downer: Paper Moon [2020]
Jennifer Touch: Behind the Wall [2020] Chemestry [from “Behind the Wall”]
Mint Julep: Stray Fantasies [2020] Broken Devotion [2016]
Varsity: Fine Forever [2020] Runnaway [from “Fine Forever”; with flickering V.H.S. video effects]
Sofie: Cult Survivor [2020]
Jessie Ware: What’s Your Pleasure? [2020] Soul Control [from “What’s Your Pleasure?”; with flickering LASER effects throughout]
White Poppy: Paradise Gardens [2020]
Lithics: Tower of Age [2020] Borrowed Floors [2016] Mating Surfaces [2018] Hands [from “Tower of Age”]
Sofie: Cult Survivor [2020]
Locate S,1 (a.k.a. Christina Schneider): Personalia [2020] Healing Contest [2018] Wicked Jaw [2023] Owe It 2 the Girls [from “Personalia”; flickering television effects throughout this video]
Night Glitter: Night Glitter [2020]
Public Practice: Gentle Grip [2020] Compromised [from “Gentle Grip”]
Wood River: More than I Can See [2020]
Why Bonnie: Voice Box e.p. [2020]
Worriers: You or Someone You Know [2020] Survival Pop [2017]
NINA: Synthian [2020] Sleepwalking [2018] The Beginning e.p. [2021] Nina Boldt & Ricky Wilde: Scala Hearts [2023] Automatic Call [from “Synthian”]
Nadine Shah: Kitchen Sink [2020] Holiday Destination [2017] Fast Food [2015]
High Waisted: Sick of Saying Sorry [2020] Modern Love [from “Sick of Saying Sorry”]
Katie Von Schleicher: Consummation [2020]
Melenas: Dias raros [2020] Melenas [2017] Ahora! [2023] Ya no me importa [streaming single, 2019; translates to âI don’t care any moreâ]
ÎŁtella (a.k.a. Stella Chronopoulou) The Break [2020] Works for You [2017] Up and Away [2022]
Jordana: Something to Say to You [2020] Face the Wall [2022] Big [from “Something to Say to You”; with flashing images]
Peaking Lights: E S C A P E [2020] The Fifth State of Consciousness [2017] Cosmic Logic [2014]
Sophie Hunger: Halluzinationen [l.p., 2020] Molecules [2018] Everything Is Good [from “Halluzinationen”]
Hayley Williams: Petals for Armor [2020]
Echoberyl: The Awakening of a Mutant Girl [2020] A Prey [from “The Awakening of a Mutant Girl”; my favourite electronic album of the year]
Hazel English: Wake UP! [2020] Just Give In / Never Going Home [2017] Shaking [from “Wake UP!”, my favourite album of 2020; my favourite sound from the album is Combat]
FRITZ: Pastel [2021] Die Happily [from “Pastel”; with flickering V.H.S. video effects]
Charlotte Wessels: Tales from Six Feet Under [2021] Soft Revolution [from “Tales from Six Feet Under”]
Goat Girl: On All Fours [2021] Goat Girl [2018] The Man [from “Goat Girl”]
GHLOW: Slash and Burn [2021] Not Fit for This [from “Slash and Burn”; with flickering video effects]
Freelove Fenner: The Punishment Zone [2021] Do Not Affect A Breezy Manner [2013] In The Bottle Garden [2009] In the Sound [from “Do Not Affect a Breezy Manner”]
Anna Fox Rochinski: Cherry [2021] Everybody’s Down [from “Cherry”]
Linn Koch-Emmery: Being the Girl [2021] Hologram Love [from “Being the Girl”]
Jane Inc.: Number One [2021] Faster than I Can Take [2022] Gem [from “Number One”]
KANGA: You and I Will Never Die [2021] Under Glass [2023] Eternal Daughter [2019] KANGA [2016] Godless [from “You and I Will Never Die”]
Meggie Lennon: Sounds from Your Lips [2021] Night Shift [from “Sounds from Your Lips”; with strobe effects]
Jane Weaver: Flock [2021] Modern Kosmology [2017] The Silver Globe [2014] The Amber Light [2015] Loops in the Secret Society [2019] The Architect e.p. [2017] Slow Motion [from “Modern Kosmology”]
Fine Place: This New Heaven [2021] Cover Blind [from “This New Heaven”; with strobe effects]
Fuzzy Lights: Burials [2021] Maiden’s Call [from “Burials”; complex rapid editing effects starting at 4.51 mins]
Judith Hill: Baby, Iâm Hollywood! [l.p., 2021]
Ships in the Night: Latent Powers [2021] Myriologues [2017] Ships in the Night e.p. [2014] Dark Places” [from “Myriologues; with strobes and flickering images]
LoneLady: Former Things [2021] Hinterland [2015] Bunkerpop [from “Hinterland”]
Taraka Larson: Welcome to Paradise Lost [2021] Prince Rama: Xtreme Now [2016] Psychocastle [from “Welcome to Paradise Lost”; strobes from 2.51 mins]
Allie Crow Buckley: Moonlit and Devious [2021] Utopian Fantasy [2023] Nothing Sacred [from “Moonlit and Devious”]
Pencey Sloe: Neglect [2022] Donât Believe, Watch Out [2019] Pencey Sloe e.p. [2017] All O.K. [from “Donât Believe, Watch Out”]
True Lilith: Celestopia [2022] Alienation [from âCelestopiaâ]
Mightmare: Cruel Liars [2022] Enemy [from “Cruel Liars”; with strobe effects; Mightmare is Sarah Shookâs solo project]
Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Nightroamer [2022] Years [2018] Talkin’ to Myself [from “Nightroamerâ]
Weyes Blood: And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow [2022] Titanic Rising [2019] Front Row Seat to Earth [2016] It’s Not Just Me, It’s Everybody [from “And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow”]
Josie Pace: IV0X10V5 [2022] Battleground [from “IV0X10V5”; with strobe effects]
Crystal Eyes: The Sweetness Restored [2022] Wishes [from “The Sweetness Restored”]
pearly: Silver of the Mirror [2022] Prettydarksexymusic e.p. [2020] Puppy [streaming single, 2020]
Warpaint: Radiate like This [2022] The Fool [2010] Warpaint [2014] Heads Up [2016] Exquisite Corpse e.p. [2009] Shadows e.p. [2011] jennylee: Right On! [2015] Heart Tax [2022; Jenny plays bass guitar with Warpaint] Burgundy [from “Exquisite Corpse”]
Oceanator: Nothingâs Ever Fine [2022] Things I Never Said [2020] January 21st [from “Things I Never Said”]
Intergalactic Lovers: Liquid Love [2022] Exhale [2017] Little Heavy Burdens [2014] Greetings & Salutations [2011] Delay [from “Greetings & Salutations”]
No Swoon: Take Your Time [2022] Again [from “Take Your Time”]
Reptaliens: Multiverse [2022] VALIS [2019] FM-2030 [2017] Wrestling e.p. [2020] Take It [from “Multiverse”; flickering V.H.S. effects throughout this video]
VERO: Unsoothing Interior [2022] BEG! [from “Unsoothing Interior” with flickering projection effects]
Unusual Architecture: Backwards [2022] Satellite [from “Backwards”; with flashing images]
Christin Nichols: I’m Fine [2022] Neon [from “I’m Fine”]
Molly Nilsson: Extreme [2022] These Things Take Time [2008] Europa [2009] Follow the Light [2010] History [2011] The Travels [2013] Zenith [2015] Imaginations [2017] Twenty-Twenty [2018] Days of Dust [from “Twenty-Twenty”]
Cannons: Fever Dream [2022] Heartbeat Highway [2023] Shadows [2019] Night Drive [2017] In a Heartbeat e.p. [2018] Hurricane [from “Fever Dream”]
Sinead O’Brien: Time Bend and Break the Bower [2022] GIRLKIND [from “Time Bend and Break the Bower”]
Dubstar: Two [2022] One [2018] Disgraceful [1995] You Were Never in Love [from “Two”; the singer is the fantastic Sarah Blackwood a.k.a. Client B, who together with Kate Holmes a.k.a. Client A, created CLIENT, who made some of my favourite electronic music of the past twenty years; my favourite single by the â90s incarnation of Dubstar is Not So Manic Now]
Rosalie Cunningham: Two Piece Puzzle [2022] Rosalie Cunningham [2019] Purson: Desire’s Magic Theatre [2016] The Circle & the Blue Door [2013] Ride on My Bike [from “Rosalie Cunningham”]
Mitski Miyawaki: Laurel Hell [2022] Be the Cowboy [2018] Bury Me at Makeout Creek [2014] The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We [2023] Puberty 2 [2016] Lush e.p. [2012] Retired from Sad, New Career in Business e.p. [2013] Washing Machine Heart [from “Be the Cowboy”]
Goodnight Louisa: Human Danger [2021] Get Your Hands off My Girlfriend [from “Human Danger”; with occasional flashing images]
GRAE: Whiplash [2022] Permanent Maniac [l.p, 2020] New Girl e.p. [2019] Woman’s World [from “New Girl”]
Sofi Tukker: Wet Tennis [2022] Treehouse [2018] Soft Animals e.p. [2016] Dancing on the People e.p. [2019] Drinkee [from “Soft Animals”]
annie hamilton: the future is here but it feels kinda like the past [2022] Annie Hamilton e.p. [2020] exist [from “the future is here but it feels kinda like the past”; with flickering images]
Findlay: The Last of the 20th Century Girls [2022] Forgotten Pleasures [2017] Off & On e.p. [2013] Night Sweats [from “The Last of the 20th Century Girls”]
LEATHERS: Reckless [e.p., 2022] Day For Night [from “Reckless”]
Alyssa Gengos: Mechanical Sweetness [2022] Gothenburg English [from “Mechanical Sweetness”]
BROODS: Space Island [2022] Evergreen [2014] Conscious [2016] Don’t Feed the Pop Monster [2019] Free [from “Conscious”]
Cats on Trees: Alie [2022] Cats on Trees [2013] Neon [2018] Sirens Call [from “Cats on Trees”]
Hatchie: Giving the World Away [2022] Keepsake [2019] Sugar & Spice e.p. [2018] Sleep [from “Sugar & Spice”]
LIGHTS: PEP [2022] The Listening [2009] Little Machines [2014] Skin & Earth [2017] Siberia Acoustic [2013] Ice [from “The Listening”; with strobe effects]
Automatic: Excess [2022] Signal [2019] Skyscraper [from “Excess”]
Wet Leg: Wet Leg [2022] Wet Dream [from “Wet Leg”; brilliant and bonkers debut from W.L.]
Melody’s Echo Chamber: Unfold [2022] Melodyâs Echo Chamber [2012] Emotional Eternal [2022] Bon Voyage e.p. [2018] Crystallized [live, from “Melodyâs Echo Chamber”]
V.T.S.S.: Circulus Vitiosus e.p. [2022] Body Mind Hell [from “Circulus Vitiosus”; with strobe effects]
beabadoobee: Beatopia [2022] Fake It Flowers [2020] Our Extended Play e.p. [2021] Space Cadet e.p. [2019] Talk [from “Beatopia”]
NYXEN: PXNK [l.p., 2022; with strobe effects] Insomnia [stand-alone single, 2019]
Wombo: Fairy Rust [2022] Keesh Mountain e.p. [2021] Slab e.p. [2023] Snakey [from “Fairy Rust”]
Abbie Ozard: Water Based Lullabies e.p. [2022] Pisces [from “Water Based Lullabies”]
BERRIES: How We Function [2022] We Are Machines [from “How We Function”; with flickering images]
Goodnight My Darling: Goodnight My Darling [2022] Until I Return [from “Goodnight My Darling”]
xPropaganda: The Heart Is Strange [2022] Donât (You Mess with Me) [from “The Heart Is Strange”; xPropaganda is Claudia BrĂŒcken and Susanne Freytag, who are former members of the group Propaganda, whose album âA Secret Wishâ from 1985 is one of my favourite ever electronic records]
Fazerdaze: Morningside [2017] Break! [e.p., 2022; with flickering images]
Charlotte AdigĂ©ry & Bolis Pupul: Topical Dancer [2022] Charlotte AdigĂ©ry: Zandoli e.p. [2019] Blenda [from “Topical Dancer”; with flickering television noise effects; bold, audacious, sarcastic Charlotte]
Skye Wallace: Terribly Good [2022] Skye Wallace [2019] Tooth and Nail [from “Terribly Good”]
NoSo: Stay Proud of Me [2022] Parasites [from “Stay Proud of Me”; astonishing debut from NoSo]
Beach Bunny: Emotional Creature [2022] Honeymoon [2020] Blame Game [e.p., 2021] Prom Queen [e.p., 2018] Good Girls (Don’t Get Used) [from “Blame Game”; Lili has been making records for a few years, but Iâve only recently discovered her music; she is one of the best songwriters Iâve heard all year ⊠this year, or any other year]
Death and Vanilla: Flicker [2023] Are You a Dreamer? [2019] Death and Vanilla [2016] To Where the Wild Things Are [2015] Out for Magic [from “Flicker”; flashing images during the last 5 seconds from 3.03 minutes]
Nabihah Iqbal: Dreamer [l.p., 2023; with flashing images] Weighing of the Heart [2017] This World Couldnât See Us [from “Dreamer”]
Zohra: Murder in the Temple [2023] Look for Love [from “Murder in the Temple “; strobes in every scene of this video]
Paramore: This Is Why [l.p., 2023] The News [from “This Is Why”; with strobe effects; Hayley Williams made an absolutely stunning solo album in 2020 called âPetals for Armorâ, and now Paramore is back with a much darker sound]
Maraschino: Hollywood Piano [2023] Hi Desire [from “Hollywood Piano”; Maraschino keeping it real with old-school synthpop]
Obey Robots: One in a Thousand [2023] Penfriend: Exotic Monsters [l.p., 2021] She Makes War: Brace for Impact [2018] Direction of Travel [2015] Porcupine [from “One in a Thousand”; As well as singing with her duo Obey Robots, multitalented Laura Kidd records solo as Penfriend and She Makes War, and she is also an awe-inspiring video artist]
Debby Friday: Good Luck [2023] So Hard to Tell [from “Good Luck”; with flickering images]
Jenny O.: Spectra [2023] New Truth [2020] Automechanic [l.p., 2013] Home e.p. [2010] You Are Loved Eternally [from âSpectraâ; with flickering images; hereâs another, without flicker: Well, O.K. Honey; from âHomeâ]
YULLOLA: Monastery of Love e.p. [2023] XOskeleton e.p. [2019] Bad Juju [from âXOskeletonâ; heart-stopping latest e.p. by YULLOLA a.k.a. Ashwini Natarajan (who confuses her listeners further by crediting her writing and singing to her alter ego Jasper Lotti), which combines elements of Nirvana-like grunge, electronics, and music that sounds as if it might have been heard a thousand yearsâ ago in an ancient cathedral, together with her own very personal thoughts about her faith; this is an early live version of one of my favourite tracks from âMonastery of Loveâ: Rip out the Wings of a Butterfly]
Gena Rose Bruce: Deep Is the Way [2023] Canât Make You Love Me [2019] Destroy Myself [from “Deep Is the Way”]
Battery Operated Orchestra: Compulsory Games [2023] Radiation [2016] Incomplete until Broken [2014] TSK!? [2013] Snare [2018] Yesterday Tomorrow and You [2020] AC/EP [2012] Observatory e.p. [2013] Unbecoming [from âCompulsory Gamesâ; with flickering effects; The Sea; from “Radiation”; with complex repeating patterns and video interference effects]
Daughter: Stereo Mind Game [2023] Not to Disappear [2016] Music from before the Storm [2017] If You Leave [2013] His Young Heart e.p. [2011] The Wild Youth e.p. [2011] 4AD Session e.p. [2014] No Care [from âNot to Disappearâ; with strobe effects]
Robin Kester: Honeycomb Shades [2023] Infinity Song / Blinds / Goodnight Argus [from “Honeycomb Shades”; three songs from Robinâs excellent debut album]
Amber Arcades: Barefoot on Diamond Road [2023] Fading Lines [l.p., 2016] European Heartbreak [2018] Where Did You Go? [from “European Heartbreak”]
Liela Moss: Internal Working Model [2023] Who the Power? [2020] My Name Is Safe in Your Mouth [2018] Vanishing Shadows [from âInternal Working Modelâ; with flickering images and some strobes]
Sophie Ellis-Bextor: HANA [2023] Read My Lips [2001] Shoot from the Hip [2003] Trip the Light Fantastic [2007] Make a Scene [2011] Wanderlust [2014] Familia [2016] theaudience: theaudience [1998] Breaking the Circle [from “HANA”; Sophie helped to lift the spirits of many hundreds of thousands of people during the lockdowns of the 2020 pandemic with her weekly Kitchen Disco concerts on Instagram, all of which are archived on Sophieâs YouTube channel; this is one of my favourites from the kitchen: Take Me Home (A Girl like Me); from âRead My Lipsâ]
Cloth: Secret Measure [2023] Low Sun e.p. [2022] Never Know [from “Secret Measure”]
Dragon Inn 3: Trade Secrets [2023] Double Line [2018] Be on My Side e.p. [2019] What Kind of World Are You Living In? [from “Double Line”]
Wednesday: Rat Saw God [2023] Bath Country [from “Rat Saw God”]
Bunny X: Love Minus 80 [2023] Young & in Love [2021] Back to You [from “Young & in Love”]
Camp Claude: Moody Moon [2023] Double Dreaming [2019] Swimming Lessons [2016] Hero [from “Double Dreaming”]
Magic Wands: Switch [2023] Illuminate [2020] Wash the Tears Away [stand-alone single, 2021; with flickering V.H.S. dropout effects]
Orla Gartland: Woman on the Internet [2022] Why Am I Like This? [e.p., 2021] Freckle Season e.p. [2020] You’re Not Special, Babe [from “Woman on the Internet”; yes, I know itâs 2023; hereâs one I missed from last year]
Noa Lee: Airship [2023] Bleed [from “Airship”; with flashing images throughout; complex debut album from Nina Kortekaas and her band from Brussels, Belgium, which mixes electronica with elements of jazz, progressive rock, and much more; my favourite track is Needle]
ShitKid: Rejected Fish [2023] 20/20 ShitKid [2020] Fish [2017] Sort Stjerne! [2021, compilation of rare and unreleased tracks] dream sequence [from “20/20”; ShitKid is Ă sa Söderqvist, queen of lo-fi, from Stockholm, Sweden]
ChĂ© Aimee Dorval: The Crowned [l.p., 2023] Between The Walls & The Windows [2017] Casualties of Cool [2014] Underachiever [2009] Volume 1 e.p. [2014] Falling Under [from “The Crowned”]
Oh Land: Loop Soup [2023] Oh Land [2011] Wish Bone [2013] Earth Sick [2014] Fauna [2008] XTRA e.p. [2022] Renaissance Girls [from “Wish Bone”â; Oh Land is Danish singer Nanna Ăland Fabricius; the soundscape on Nanaâs latest album is at her most poppy, but with many interesting and unique ideas in her song-words]
Karen y los Remedios: Silencio [l.p., 2023] Las muchachas [from “Silencio”; rumour has it that Karen is more popular than paella in her native Spain]
Mint Field: Aprender a ser [2023] Sentimiento mundial [2020] Pasar de las luces [2018] Mientras esperas e.p. [2019; Quiero otonÌo de nuevo [from “Pasar de las luces”; amazing dreampop from Mexico]
Nadia Sheikh: Neverending Trial e.p. [2023] Quiet [from “Neverending Trial”; Nadiaâs fourth e.p. is her most promising yet, showcasing her highly emotional songwriting; Iâm really looking forward to Nadiaâs first album when it arrives]
Cherry Glazerr: I Don’t Want You Anymore [2023] Stuffed & Ready [2019] Apocalipstick [2016] Haxel Princess [2014] Ready for You [from “I Don’t Want You Anymore”; with strobe effects; hereâs another without strobes: Told You I’d Be with the Guys; from Apocalipstick”]
Zanias: Chrysalis [2023] Unearthed [2021] Into the All [2018] Unraveled [from “Unearthed”; Zanias is the solo project of Alison Lewis, who sings with Linea Aspera]
Pip Blom: Bobbie [2023] Boat [2019] Welcome Break [2021] Truth [stand-alone single, 2016; indie from Amsterdam]
Jenn Champion: The Last Night of Sadness [2023] Single Rider [2018] Coming for You [from “Single Rider”; with flickering television interference effects starting at 2.20 minutes]
Patio: Collection [2023] Essentials [2019] Luxury e.p. [2016] Sixpence [from “Collection”; with flickering mirror-ball effects; angular new wave from Queens, New York; in spite of the names of the records, neither âCollectionâ nor âEssentialsâ is a compilation]
Tessa Violet: MY GOD! [2023] Bad Ideas [l.p., 2019] Maybe Trapped Mostly Troubled [2014] Halloway e.p. [2016] Tessa popped up on my YouTube sidebar (which is normally populated with cat videos); on first listen, âCrushâ is an instant favourite; with flickering images for the first 2 seconds; Tessa writes all of her own songs, with vivid, observant lyrics; hereâs another fantastic single: I Like (the Idea of) You; from âBad Ideasâ; with flickering images for the first 9 seconds, and the last 1 second]
Annie Taylor: Inner Smile [2023] Sweet Mortality [2020] Telephone [from “Sweet Mortality”; with flashing images; these are the two albums that Iâve played the most over the past couple of weeks; confusingly, no one in the group is called Annie Taylor; the singer is the delightfully named Gini Jungi; the group is from Zurich, Switzerland]
Frankie Rose: Love as Projection [2023] Interstellar [2012] Cage Tropical [2017] Sixteen Ways [from “Love as Projection”; with strobe effects; Frankie once played drums with Dum Dum Girls, and in 2021, made a terrific electronic album called âThis New Heavenâ under the name of her duo Fine Place]
Blondshell: Blondshell [2023] Salad [from “Blondshell”; âĄ]
N.n.h.m.n.: Circle of Doom [2023] Deception Island [2021] Church of No Religion [2019] Tomorrow’s Heroine e.p. [2021] For the Comfort of Your Exstazy e.p. [2022] Hungrige Liebe [from “Circle of Doom”; with strobe effects; this was a nice surprise: one of the best examples of dark wave that Iâve heard in years; the group is from Berlin; its name stands for âNon-Humanâ]
Bully: Lucky for You [2023] Losing [2017] SUGAREGG [2020] Feels Like … [2015] Hard to Love [from “Lucky for You”; with flickering video glitch effects] NewDad: Madra [2024] Banshee e.p. [2022] Waves e.p. [2021] Nightmares [from “Madra”; with flickering images]
Kah-Lo: Pain / Pleasure [2023] The Arrival e.p. [2021] GD Woman [from “Pain / Pleasure”; Kah-Lo is Faridah Demola-Seriki, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, before travelling to New York to study and record electrifying afro-house]
a.s.o.: a.s.o. [2023] Go On [from “a.s.o.”; with strobe effects; named after Australian singer Alia Seror-OâNeill, the opening three tracks are perfect â90s-style trip-hop]
Bray me: DUH [2024] Grace Note e.p. [2019] ă€ăšăčăżăă〠[from “DUH”; formerly known as Brave Jackass and Meme, Bray me is from Fujinomiya, Shizuoka, Japan]
The Fauns: How Lost [l.p., 2024; with flickering images on this, and the next link] Lights [2013] Mixtape Days [from âHow Lostâ; ever more sophisticated dream-pop from Bristol band The Fauns; just three albums in fifteen years, but always worth waiting for]
PACKS: Melt the Honey [2024] Take the Cake [2021] Crispy Crunchy Nothing [2023] WOAH e.p. [2022] Silvertongue [from “Take the Cake”â; Canadian indie by Madeline Link; in recent months, PACKS, TORRES, Pip Blom, and Cherry Glazerr have all made new records, all of whom I get super-excited to see has a new album!]
TORRES: What an enormous room [2024] Sprinter [l.p., 2015] Thirstier [2021] Silver Tongue [2020] Collect [from “What an enormous room”; with flickering video interference effects]
… More to come …