The Sound of Early Synthpop

“The Sound of Early Synthpop” explores the early wave of electronic music that surfaced in the late '70s and early '80s, highlighting how artists began fusing cold analog synths with catchy hooks and minimalist production. This playlist threads through iconic tracks like Visage's “Fade To Grey” and Kraftwerk’s “The Model” alongside lesser-known gems such as Laugh Clown Laugh’s “Feel So Young” and Casino Music's angular “Viol af 015”, showcasing the range and experimentation that defined the genre’s roots.

It digs into both the mainstream edges and obscure corners of early synthpop—from the robotic pulses of Telex's “Moskow Diskow” to the twisted electro-pop of Indians in Moscow’s “Naughty Miranda.” You’ll find proto-industrial, minimal wave, synth-laced post-punk, and touches of Italo-disco, all dipped in synthetic textures. Whether driven by drum machines, vocoders, or arpeggiated basslines, these tracks trace the rise of electronic pop before it became a global juggernaut.