Terpsichore (Silly Not To)

Various Artists – Terpsichore (Silly Not To)

An intriguing and wonderfully eclectic snapshot of the international new wave and electronic music underground of 1981, Terpsichore (Silly Not To) is a fascinating compilation bringing together established names, emerging artists and adventurous electronic projects from across Europe and Japan. Released in the UK on EMI Records, this unusual collection captures the creative experimentation, futuristic production and dancefloor influences that characterised the transition from post-punk into the new romantic and synth-pop era.

Originally issued in 1981 with the catalogue number EMS 1004, the album was promoted as an international musical collection, bringing together artists from EMI's wider network of labels. Its line-up stretches from Japanese electronic pioneers and German avant-garde performers to British new wave groups, creating an unusually varied listening experience that moves between synth-pop, electro, post-punk, disco and experimental dance music.

One of the major attractions is the inclusion of Sandii, the Japanese vocalist who would become widely known through her work with Sandii & The Sunsetz. Her contribution, Hey Rock-A La La, combines adventurous rhythms and cross-cultural musical influences, reflecting the exciting Japanese electronic and alternative music scene of the period. Logic System, the project of pioneering synthesiser programmer Hideki Matsutake, adds another distinctly Japanese perspective with the futuristic electronic dance track Talk Back. Matsutake's background working with Yellow Magic Orchestra gives this appearance particular interest for fans of early Japanese synth music.

The European contributions are equally compelling. Germany's Gina X Performance delivers the influential electro-disco sound of No G.D.M., a track closely associated with the underground club culture surrounding London's Blitz scene. Die Fehlfarben contribute Militürk, connecting the compilation to the politically charged German post-punk movement, while French singer Sapho brings a different dimension with Respect.

British artists are represented by Thomas Dolby, whose Urges offers an early glimpse of the inventive electronic pop songwriting that would soon make him a major figure in the eighties, and Classix Nouveaux, whose Robots Dance fits neatly into the period's fascination with futuristic synth-driven music. Elsewhere, M.A.O., Shock, Airport And Dean, Katmandu and Naked Lunch add further variety, making the album particularly rewarding for listeners interested in discovering lesser-known recordings from the era.

What makes Terpsichore (Silly Not To) especially appealing is its international outlook. Rather than concentrating on one particular sound or scene, it brings together different interpretations of electronic and alternative music at a moment when synthesiser technology, club culture and independent music were rapidly reshaping popular music. The result is an absorbing collection that documents the adventurous spirit of the early eighties.

A particularly interesting compilation for collectors of obscure new wave, minimal synth, early electronic pop, post-punk and alternative dance music. Recommended for anyone exploring the connections between the Japanese electronic scene, European underground music and Britain's emerging new romantic culture.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Sandii – Hey Rock-A La La

2. M.A.O. – Friend For A Day

3. Shock – R.E.R.B.

4. Airport And Dean – Blonde Darlings

5. Die Fehlfarben* – Militürk

6. Sapho – Respect

Side B

1. Logic System – Talk Back

2. Katmandu – I Can Make The Future

3. Thomas Dolby – Urges

4. Naked Lunch – Horror Shock Horror

5. Gina X Performance – No G.D.M.

6. Classix Nouveaux – Robots Dance