Last Saturday of June! We're back in the Dome once again for another Season 12 Retro Arcade with DJ Katt!
Katt is currently having a resurgent interest in dark, dystopian, early-1980s synth and industrial music. What is that all about? Well, German post-punk industrial music emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s, blending the stark, minimalist aesthetics of post-punk with the harsh, mechanical sounds of industrial music. It features abrasive guitar riffs, synthesizers, and unconventional production techniques, often incorporating themes of alienation, dystopia, and existential angst. Bands like Einstürzende Neubauten and Die Krupps exemplify this genre, utilizing found objects and experimental noise to create a raw, visceral sound. The genre is characterized by its avant-garde approach, blending electronic music with punk’s DIY ethos, resulting in a sound that is both challenging and innovative.
John Foxx and Gary Numan, though primarily associated with the British electronic and synthpop scenes, significantly influenced the development of German post-punk industrial music. John Foxx, as the original lead singer of Ultravox, pioneered a cold, synthesizer-driven sound that prefigured the industrial genre. His solo work, especially the album "Metamatic," further explored themes of alienation and dystopia, resonating with the post-punk industrial ethos.
Gary Numan, with his band Tubeway Army and solo career, introduced a mechanical, robotic sound through hits like "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars." His use of synthesizers and stark, futuristic imagery influenced many German artists, contributing to the synthesis of electronic music with post-punk's dark, introspective qualities. Both Foxx and Numan's work laid the groundwork for the fusion of electronic music and post-punk that became a hallmark of the German industrial scene.