All Things 80s!
About The Obscurity File
Today’s tune is one of my favorites from the 1980s. It’s Frazier Chorus “Cloud 8” from their sophomore album, Ray (1990). Their debut album, Sue, contained a plethora of great synth pop goodness and their second album continues in that tradition. It’s downbeat, droll, and dreamy!
PS – You can read more about another track from the album “All the Air” at this nifty blog here. Not affiliated, it’s just a cool blog. Enjoy!
Today’s song that got stuck in my head is “Only You” by Australian band FX. This is the single from their first and only proper album, Personal (1986), that was released in 1986 on LP and cassette only. Sadly, all formats are long out of print (we need a reissue, please!).
Almacantar Records (sadly, also now defunct) also released a strange self-titled EP by the band several years later, but it was much more raw and experimental sounding. Criminally underrated band that deserved so much better. If anyone has more info on this band, please let me know! Here is the song (promo video):
Here is a song that gets stuck in my head from time to time and today’s my lucky day again! The legendary German synth group Kraftwerk strike “gold” with their industrial/tech anthem “The Robots” (1978). Granted, their stuff isn’t for everyone, but this is one of the most highly influential tracks for so many other synth and industrial bands of that time forward. Required listening!
Today’s song is a semi-obscure track from 1988: “I Don’t Mind At All” by Bourgeois Tagg. It’s from their second (final?) album Yo-Yo and it’s a masterpiece of lyrical melancholy and minimalist instrumentation that will have you singing it to yourself before you know it. In short, it’s absolutely great. Let me know what you think!
From 1982, here is the song “Get Set” by Yazoo. It’s a fun, catchy, and danceable synth pop ditty that would be right at home on an Erasure album. This archival footage features Alison “Alf” Moyet on vocals and the amazing Vince Clark on keys. Oddly, this was never released as a single nor was it featured on their albums. An essential for anyone who is into 80s music. Enjoy and happy Monday!
