Genre story · Pop
Synth-Pop
The pop song rebuilt around electronic instruments, from repeated sequences to startlingly direct melodies.
Synth-pop developed during the late 1970s and early 1980s as synthesizers and drum machines became central to Pop composition. Kraftwerk supplied an important earlier model, while Gary Numan, the Human League, Depeche Mode and Yazoo put new electronic tools into sharply defined songs. British scenes were commercially prominent, but related recordings also developed in Japan, continental Europe and North America. The genre was never identical to the broader New Wave term.
A melody made with circuits
Programmed drum patterns, pulsing synthesizer bass and bright keyboard hooks often serve functions previously assigned to guitars. Vocals may be detached or highly expressive. Some tracks rely on exact repetition; others use elaborate chord changes and studio treatments. Synth-pop can be spare and tense or theatrical and expansive.
The punk-era opening
Early groups often shared venues and audiences with post-punk and new-wave acts, making the change from guitars to machines culturally significant. Dream Pop and later electronic pop borrowed some of those techniques while developing their own approaches. Synth-pop is a recognizable style, not a guarantee of particular lyrical or visual themes.
Essential recordings
- 1979Gary NumanThe Pleasure PrincipleElectronic hooks within a tense pop language.
- 1981The Human LeagueDareSequencers and clear songwriting reaching a wider audience.
- 1982YazooUpstairs at Eric'sA combination of direct melodies and economical synthetic arrangements.