Day 0527 - Sweet Dreams are Made of This

The Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams are Made of This" (1983)

I don't have a lot to say about this one, to be honest.  I was introduced to the band through Marilyn Manson's cover of "Sweet dreams.." and through the later era single "I saved the world today" and I have a vinyl copy of one of their albums that I picked up at a sale once.

The video for 'Love is a stranger' was initially banned in the US where they accused Lennox of being "a youth-corrupting transvestite"... by the end of 1983, the album was a smash hit (score one for the transvestites).  There's an interesting mix of upbeat dance-pop, angular synth pop and more atmospheric numbers, like the ethereal "Jennifer" (which I love as it's a good song, and that's my wife's name).

Day 0512 - Sulk

Associates "Sulk" (1982)

Another smorgasbord of 80s pop sounds, with minimal guitars and a heady dose of synths.  The synths are tastefully used though, with nicely orchestrated sounds that signposted the more new-wave sounds of bands like Duran Duran.  The singer has kind of an odd voice, but it sits well enough in these tunes.

Not too much else to say about the one.

Day 0452 - The Pleasure Principle

Gary Numan "The Pleasure Principle" (1979)

Numan!   Stop eyeballing that pyramid.

Another synth-pop album that kind of heralded the sound that would come to rule the airwaves in the 80s. Numan's band consisted of drums, synthesisers, bass, and a viola... the last of which adds a touch of the organic to what can occasionally be an overly polished and dehumanised genre.

The cover too speaks of that move from flamboyant or macho scruffy musician in the 70s to a buttoned down, corporate look that a few bands opted for the following decade.

The track M.E (or a part of it) is the basis for the popular Bassment Jaxx song "Where's your head at", aside from that, I was familiar with the song "Cars".

Day 0363 - Oxygene

Jean Michel Jarre "Oxygene" (1976)

Hadn't heard this one before; I don't have much to say about it either.  Similar sort of sounds to 'Equinoxe', enjoyable synthy soundscapes; sometimes trippy and spacey, sometimes ethereal and bloopy, and sometimes just quite clean and businesslike.