SYNTHPOSIUM

1. SYNTH SIBLINGS:  Find the musical output of a lesser known sibling to a well-known musician
2. BACK TO THE MAP:  Synth in Turkey!
3. SYNTH REJECTION:  Find an artist who established themselves with synths, only to reject them later
4. SYNTH IN COMEDY:  Find a film clip/standup comic/parody video where a synth is used for comedic effect

+ Happy International Women’s Day from all-female funk band Klymaxx 

FAVOURITE ALBUM OF 2012

• Lara’s pick:  TRUST - TRST

—-

• Les’ pick:  Fiona Apple - The Idler Wheel…

—-

Check out our podcast below to hear our comments

Synthposium Vol. 13 2012 YEAR END - Challenge 3: Album of the Year by Synthposium5

-Lara

FAVOURITE SONG OF 2012

• Les’ picks: (tie) Frank Ocean - Pyramids and Miguel - Adorn
  
  

—-

• Lara’s pick:  Janet Jackson - If (Kaytranada Remix)
   

Check out our commentary/justifications here:

Synthposium Vol. 13 2012 YEAR END - Challenge 2: Song of the Year by Synthposium5

—-

-Lara

MUSIC TRENDS of 2012

• Lara’s Picks: Return of the Recluses (i.e. Cat Power and Fiona Apple), contrasted with the “Dancing Till the World Ends” theme in Top 40 Music. 

• Les’ pick: The rise of streaming services. Drake’s “Take Care” featuring Rihanna benefitted from a change in the Hot 100 formula which incorporated data from streaming services.

Tune into a more detailed analysis of musical trends in 2012 below!

Synthposium Vol. 13 2012 YEAR END - Challenge 1: Trends in 2012 by Synthposium5

-Les

B-SIDES/RARITIES:  Find a b-side to a top-40 single released in the synth era that deserves to be exposed

• Lara’s pick:  Kraftwerk - Das Modell
  
  Originally released in 1978 on Kraftwerk’s album The Man-Machine, EMI producers felt “Das Modell” was overlooked and when prepping Kraftwerk’s UK single of “Computer Love” decided to attach it as a b-side, which caught the attention of radio DJs who played that track on such high rotation that it encouraged a release of “Das Modell” as a single in December 1981, which went on to reach #1 on the UK charts in Februrary 1982.  Fast-forward to 4:49 in this clip from the BBC documentary Synth Britannia to hear Wolfgang from Kraftwerk speak about this process:
   

—-

• Les’ pick:  Prince - Erotic City
   
  Prince’s “Erotic City” was reportedly recorded after seeing a live show of  Parliament-Funkadelic play in Los Angeles, and was released as a b-side to “Let’s Go Crazy” in 1984.  Envisioning a utopian metropolis, “make love not war erotic city come alive,” “Erotic City” is a hyper-sexual dance jam which accrued broadcast fines for it’s liberal use of “fuck” in the lyrics, but went on to become a #1 hit.  This marked the debut of his collaborations with Sheila E, who can be seen in this amazingly choreographed & costumed live performance:
   

Check out our podcast here:

Synthposium Vol. 12 Challenge 4: B-side to synth single by Synthposium5

—-

-Lara