I spent last Friday evening enjoying an evening of nostalgia. BBC Four showed a program called Synth Britannia. This was all about the UK music industry and how the arrival of affordable synths and post punk gloom got together to make a new sound.
This was what I grew up with. It was a joy to watch Gary Numan, John Foxx and Daniel Miller share their memories. And I’m sure a joy for all those involved to sit amongst all those ageing analogue synths.
At times I did feel old, but at other times I enjoyed laughing along with my daughter at Midge Ure’s excuse for a moustache. I still can’t quite decide what Andy McCluskey’s worst crime is, Atomic Kitten or his dancing. That said, it was great to hear from all of them and my thanks for all their music – well perhaps not Tesla Girls.
I also wondered whether I have reached the age that I want to complain to the BBC.
Was I upset that Japan only got a brief image toward the end of the show? Was I annoyed that John Foxx’s Metamatic was mentioned before Gary Numan’s (for the pedants, Tubeway Army’s) Are ‘Friends’ Electric?
No, my main gripe was that a clip of Kieron Prenderville waxing on about the Fairlight Sampling Computer, was followed by Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys talking about the Emulator. This gave the impression that it was the same machine, it wasn’t, not by a long shot. I’m either getting old or the geek in me is finally breaking free.
Still, as I list my things to be thankful for, you’ll see the program was thoroughly appreciated:
- Synth Britannia
- Numan / Foxx et al
- BBC Four
- Flash Forward (so far, don’t think I’ve forgiven Brannon Braga for Dr Phlox yet)
- DirectLine Insurance (fixed a leak for me)
- Life – BBC not mine
- Life – mine, I’m still breathing
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I saw that – was excellent… although i would question a couple of them as synth bands…
yes, and I can’t quite remember Cabaret Voltaire being so influential.