Faithless - Don't Leave (Euphoric Mix)

 

I can't believe this track is already 26 years old, but it still sounds as good as the first time I heard it, so congrats to Faithless for creating this masterpiece and thumbs up to Rollo & Sister Bliss for this awesome remix. 11+ minutes of pure electronic pleasure :)

Angels & Agony - Monument

A truly amazing track from Angels & Agony, a Dutch futurepop/electropop band formed in 1995. Produced by John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, HIM, Die Krupps and more), 'Monument' is the title track of the album of the same name, released in January 2015.

Kraftwerk - The Model

To celebrate the 50th post on this blog, let's go back to the roots of electronic music with Kraftwerk, the German band formed in 1969 (a very good year) in Düsseldorf by Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider. Taken from the album 'The Man-Machine' released 44 years ago (!!!), 'The Model' was first released on the B-Side of the 'Computer Love' single in 1981. A few months after, the single was re-issued with 'The Model' as the A-Side and reached n°1 in the UK singles chart in February 1982.

Eisfabrik - Lost In Endless Ice

Hot from the press, here comes a great track from the German synthpop/futurepop band Eisfabrik, taken from their brand new album 'Life Below Zero' released today, 25 February 2022. I highly recommend the album if you like intelligent synthpop music :)

Real Life - Send Me An Angel '89 (Extended Dance Mix)

I'm sure you all know this track from Real Life, an australian synthpop band formed by Richard Zatorski and David Sterry in late 1980. The version here is the extended dance remix from 1988 by Nigel Wright (rebranded as Send Me An Angel '89 to coincide with the compilation album of the same name).

Chrom - The Start Of Something New (Rob Dust Remix)

 

Today's post features a great remix from Rob Dust for this track released in 2016 by CHROM, a German synthpop duo formed in May 2007 by Christian Marquis and Thomas Winters (the group's name is a combination of their first names, CHRis and tOM).

Aurora Feat. Naimee Coleman - Ordinary World (Condor Remix)

 

Not sure if Duran Duran fans will agree with me, but I really like this cover of 'Ordinary World' by British electronic dance music group Aurora (also known as Aurora UK to avoid confusion with pop singer Aurora from Norway), featuring Naimee Coleman on vocals. Released late 2000/early 2001, here's the great (and very extended) trance remix by Condor, aka Stephan Bodzin.

 

Colony 5 - Hate (Single Edit)

After racism yesterday, today's topic is hate with this great track from Colony 5, a Swedish Futurepop/Synthpop band founded in March 1999. This is the Single Edit, taken from the 'Black' CDM released 31 March 2003.

Adamski Feat. Seal - Killer (Original 12" Version)

A dance track with a message against racism. For the record, Seal's vocals were recorded against this track on 27 January 1990, the same day that 10,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square (not far from the studio where they were working) for the 'Freedom to Party' demonstration against a government crackdown on rave culture, which Adamski himself attended.

 

Project Pitchfork - Timekiller (And One Remix)

 

Another example of a great remix bringing an average song to a new dimension. This time it's the track 'Timekiller' by Hamburg-based Project Pitchfork and the remix is done by Steve Naghavi (And One). Great lyrics, great video...it's a keeper :)

Cappella - U Got 2 Let The Music (Mars Plastic Mix)

Let's get ready for the weekend with this 90's Eurodance hit by Italian electronic dance act Cappella. If the main melody sounds familiar to you, that's because it's based on 'Sounds Like A Melody' from Alphaville that I posted here earlier this week.

Apoptygma Berzerk - Kathy's Song (Victoria Mix by VNV Nation)

Sometimes an average song can become something extraordinary when being remixed by the right person. 'Kathy's Song' from Norwegian band Apoptygma Berzerk is the perfect example of this with this awesome remix made by Ronan Harris from VNV Nation. I could listen to this remix forever...with the exception of the intro maybe :)

Sash! Feat. Tina Cousins - Mysterious Times (Original 12")

Time to dance with this track from Sash!, the German dance music project headed by DJ Sascha Lappessen. Released 27th July 1998 with Tina Cousins as vocalist, 'Mysterious Times' was a Top 10 hit in several European countries, including Danemark, Finland, Italy and UK.

 

Beyond Border - Construction

Taken from one of my fav' album released last year, 'Construction' is a brilliant track from Beyond Border, a new synthpop/synthwave duo from Hildesheim, Germany. When club-friendly beats meet thought-provoking lyrics, the result is just perfect.

Alphaville - Sounds Like A Melody (Special Long Version)

Alphaville's second single has always been my fav' from this German synthpop band formed in 1982 in Münster. Last Monday (7 February) the band announced that a brandnew double album will be released in autumn 2022: a re-recording of their greatest hits along with newly created songs in a grandiose orchestral arrangement, performed by Filmorchester Babelsberg...so we'll more than likely have another orchestral version of 'Sounds Like A Melody' :)

Assemblage 23 - Let Me Be Your Armor

Taken from the album 'Addendum' released in 2001, 'Let Me Be Your Armor' is a great track from Assemblage 23, the electronic/industrial project of Providence’s Thomas Shear. A powerful song with great lyrics...2 thumbs up !

Kim Wilde - You Came (Shep Pettibone 12'' Mix)

Taken from her biggest selling album to date 'Close' released in 1988, 'You Came' has always been one of my fav' from Kim Wilde. The song was written by Kim and her younger brother Ricky, after the birth of his first child, Marty. This version is the full length remix by Shep Pettibone, released on a separate 12-inch single in Europe.

 

Unity One - Reality (Frozen Plasma Remix)

A great futurepop/synthpop track from Unity One, an international project of Mike E. (music/programming) and Alexander 'Rush' Gladky (vocals). This remix by Frozen Plasma is taken from the Reality EP, released in August 2019.

2 Belgen - Lena (Club Mix)

The biggest hit from 2 Belgen, a Belgian '80s electropop-rockduo formed by guitar player Rembert De Smet and drummer Herman Celis. After a few more tracks for 2 Belgen, Rembert became heavily involved in the New Beat scene by the late '80 and used various aliases to produce multiple tracks and worked frequently with the Praga Khan pack. He died January 28, 2017.

State of the Union - Behind That Dress (Ruined Conflict Grey Remix)

Taken from the 'Bad Flower EP' released in april 2020, here's a nice remix by Ruined Conflict for this synthpop project lead by Johann Sebastian (producer, singer & songwriter of State of the Union).

Pet Shop Boys - A Red Letter Day (PSB Extended Edit)

Taken from the sixth studio album by Pet Shop Boys, 'A Red Letter Day' is another great synthpop track from the 'most successful duo in UK music history' (according to the 1999 edition of the Guinness Book of Records).

PS: Sorry for the lame video, but I had to replace the original one due to copyrights reason :(

Mesh - Crash (Mesh Collision Mix)

Taken from the album 'We Collide' released in 2006 and produced by former Depeche Mode producer Gareth Jones, 'Crash' is a great track from this British electronic alternative band. A few weeks after this release, Neil Taylor announced he was leaving the band after 15 years to pursue other interests.

Lasgo - Something (Extended Mix)

Lasgo's debut single released in the summer of 2001 with Evi Goffin as vocalist (she left in 2008 to become a full-time mother and was replaced by Jelle Van Dael). This great electronic/trance track became a hit all around Europe, charting at #5 in Belgium as well as #4 in the UK Singles Chart.

Vanguard - Ragnarök

Released in April 2021 and taken from Vanguard's upcoming 5th album, Ragnarök is an absolute banger from this Swedish alternative electronic duo. The track produced by Rob Dust is named after the great battle in Norse mythology that leads to the end of the world.

Confetti's - C Day (Extended Version)

In 1988, 2 Belgian producers - Serge Ramaekers & Dominic Sas - were working on a campaign to promote their club "Confetti's" located in Brasschaat, near Antwerp. They offered one of their club employee, Peter Renkens, to become the front head of this campaign. The band Confetti's was born, with Peter & 4 female dancers from the club (Marleen, Tania, Hilde and Daniëlla). Within a few months they became one of the first to break through into mainstream music as a new beat act, with international hits like 'The Sound Of C', 'C in China' or 'C Day'.

Elektrostaub Feat. Norderney - Futurism

A great collaboration between Elektrostaub (aka Patrick Knoch) and Norderney (a German duo from Rostock, Germany). The track is taken from the album 'Reliance', released in 2021 and featuring collaborations with !Distain, Psyche, Patrik Hansson (from Vanguard) and Claudia Uhle (Angelzoom, X-Perience) amongst others.

Jeanne Mas - L'Enfant (Version Longue)

Time for some french synthpop with Jeanne Mas, even if she was born in Spain and started her singing career in Italy. Written by an italian duo (Romano Musumarra & Roberto Zaneli), “L'Enfant” (= The Child) is the second single taken from the album “Femmes D’aujourd’hui” released in 1986 and it’s a beauty, even if you don't understand french :)

 

Solar Fake - Stay

Taken from Solar Fake's 4th album 'Another Manic Episode' released October 2015, Stay is a beautiful song written by the multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sven Friedrich (also known for his other projects Zeraphine and Dreadful Shadows).