The Human League - The Black Hit Of Space (Virgin, 1980)

It's wasn't all New Romantic handbags and gladrags...

As great a single as 'Don't You Want Me' was, this is pretty great too. A much more amateurish (in a good way) take on cutting edge electronic pop, 1980-style.

The lyrics are incongruous in the extreme. They might be rubbish but they're brilliant, telling of a record so awesome it creates a black hole. A record that's not just climbed to number one in the charts, it's gone "into minus figures".

The music is wobbly like the theme tune from a sci-fi version of Crossroads and it certainly keeps interesting company. Cabaret Voltaire. Kraftwerk. Wendy Carlos. Gary Glitter...

Intriguing and awkwardly funky.

Download The Human League 'The Black Hit Of Space' (electronic pop mp3) (Mediafire)

#Bestof2011 - Creep ft Romy xx 'Days' (Young Turks)

Best xx side-project of the year! 

A tough call up against Jamie xx's 'Far Nearer' but 'Days' is an icy piece of lusty electropop. It bursts into life with some curly synth that sounds like it came from  Blakes 7 before settling into a menancing sinewave bass groove.

The song is graced by Romy Madley Croft's dulcet tones, providing a warm, intimate contrast to the otherwise austere, glassy sound.

The only thing I don't get is why the 12" cost me something like £13. Is it impregnated with some kind of 'dance drug'? Made of gold? Anyway, a fine, fine track.


YT053 - Creep - Days by Young Turks

New Music - El Perro Del Mar 'What Do You Expect' (2011)

Darkwave synth work and political commentary - not what I expected from El Perro Del Mar.

Something of a diversion from the pure, almost twee, pop of yore.

Featuring dialogue samples of comments on the London/UK riots last month, 'What Do You Expect' is minimal, dark and edgy, nudging up next to Fever Ray/The Knife and reminding me of the great dubby, mutterings of (C)'s 'Witch' album. (Memo to self: must post from that soon.)

New album El Perro Del Mar expected in 2012.

What Do You Expect by El Perro Del Mar