Music For Parties [CD]

These minimalist, pure synth reworkings of pop and rock classics are great fun to listen to and of course, perfect for parties. My favorites include Memphis Tennessee, Chip 'n Roll, Let's Dance, Red River Rock and Judy In Disguise. It's really infectious stuff - the songs are all very tuneful and rhythmic with a pure pop sensibility. With so many tracks however, the effect can be a bit overwhelming, so play them five at a time to really appreciate each song individually. Those who love the synth-pop of the late 1970s and the 1980s, like Gary Numan, Human League, Kraftwerk, Klaus Nomi, OMD, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Suicide, Yazoo or the Pet Shop Boys will certainly find something to enjoy here. In a way, the music is deconstructive like the Residents on their American Composers series, but unlike the weirdness of the Residents, it is immediately accessible and rhythmically appealing. The musician behind the Silicon Teens project was Daniel Miller. I highly recommend his other work from the period, like Warm Leatherette/TVOD by The Normal.

In one world, Darryl (Vocals), Jacki (Synthesizer), Paul (Electronic Percussion), and Diane (Synthesizer) were the first electronic teenybop act, `Look In' and `Smash Hits' gone plastic before `Don't You Want Me.' The kids of Kling-Klang destined for stardom...they vanished from view, becoming the JD Salinger of electropop and all the money in the world couldn't get them back together. Many of us think they could have ruled the world, their legacy of course remains huge, despite being whittled down to just one album. Darryl and co were right at the centre of a music revolution, rumoured to be related to the anonymous members of the Normal who recorded their sole single `Warm Leatherette/TVOD' and similarly vanished. Perhaps Joe Meek invited them to his planet, maybe they heard a new world too? It's not unusual for electronic acts to vanish - where were Kraftwerk during periods in the 1980s and 1990s? Where did Suicide go between their second and third LP and the third and fourth? Did one of Cabaret Voltaire really go to Australia? Were Walter and Wendy Carlos? Do Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark still work for the Nat West? Think about it...

In another world, Silicon Teens were the product of Daniel Miller, the man behind Mute Records and the dude who was previously known as The Normal, an act he dropped after releasing the seminal `TVOD/Warm Leatherette' single - the latter still the best Ballard-modelled slice of electro-pop (there are other contenders) and later covered by Grace Jones. Daniel Miller anticipated the fictional pop act here - beating the Dukes of Stratosphear, the lovely Betty Boo, Gorillaz and Girls Aloud to the punch. This 16 track selection is basically Mr Miller with Eric Radcliffe (associated with the Mode and Yazoo). The majority of it has the fictional electro teen pop outfit doing covers of rock'n'roll standards : Chuck Berry's `Memphis Tennessee' & `Sweet Little Sixteen', Manfred Mann's `Doo-Wah-Diddy-Diddy', The Kinks' `You Really Got Me', Buddy Holly's `Oh Boy', and two storming takes of `Let's Dance' (much better than the Ramones version!). The Teens even have a few compositions of their own, and producer Larry Least contributes `Chip'N'Roll' too...

Daniel Miller would eventually find his electo-teen band in the form of Depeche Mode, elements of their debut LP `Speak and Spell' and initial single `Dreaming of Me' are here. The album reminds me a little of Suicide too - `Be Bop Kid', `Juke Box Baby', `Johnny', or their take on '96 Tears.' `Music for Parties' is my idea of party music and is one of the key electronic albums of the decade from 1976 to 1986 alongside `Trans Europe Express', `Suicide', '20 Jazz Funk Greats', `Replicas', `Technodelic', `Dare!', `Upstairs at Eric's', `Some Great Reward', & `How to Be a Zillionaire.'

In another world, there is a rumour that Jacki left Paul for Darryl and that Diane took up with Darryl after Paul left. The resulting court case lead to the confiscation of their synths, the ensuing case based on the projected millions the teens were anticipated to earn by Seymour Stein ("More important than Madonna") appeared to recall the court case at the centre of `Bleak House.' However, there are rumours that a settlement was reached and the band have settled their differences, many fans across the world wonder if they will follow Suicide and Throbbing Gristle's recent reformation? The stuff of distant dreams, until then, here's one of the 42 greatest records of all time...

Silicon Teens's Music For Parties on cd gotta buy that!! And for that price i'm definately buying it!! 2nd hand copy ordered & delivery within a week bonus!!! Now what other old albums i had on vinyl can i get on cd???