For anyone interested in synth music history--there's a recently posted 10-part documentary on YouTube. I started watching this morning and couldn't stop.

Part one link here:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTXPpsz9LP8

Thanks for sharing.

This was quite interesting to watch--I checked out all 10 segments. Nice to see older footage coupled with current interviews of various musicians from that time.

There are a few off-color words within the documentary... so it's not "office appropriate."

I just finished watching 9 of the 10 segments. For some reason, I couldn't access part 9 of 10, because it said it wasn't available in the USA for copyright reasons. (Synthoid: Were you able to find part 9?)

Anyway, a very interesting documentary with lots of great early footage of bands that I've liked for a long time (Joy Division, Depeche Mode, Yaz, New Order).

To me, though, perhaps the most amazing part is when Vince Clarke -- arguably the King of British synth pop -- mispronounces the name "Moog" in part 6. I had to back up a few seconds just to see if I really heard right!

Thanks again, Synthoid.

Noah

Boy did that bring back the 80's. Sometimes good and, well sometimes.
Thanks for the link!

Yes, I watched all 10 segments... not sure why you got that message.




Glad you enjoyed it.

Interesting. I still can't find part 9. I click on the link that you posted above, and I find additional links for parts 2 through 8 and part 10, but no link for part 9.

I just clicked on part 9 and got the same message you received--guess it was pulled... kinda odd.

All 10 segments were up and running yesterday am.

Bummer, because I found the stuff in the latter parts more engaging than the earlier stuff (in part because I knew the artists better and could connect with that time period better).

Noah

I just watched the first clip. Great!

I remembered a comment I made regarding synths back in the 1970's. I was at a bar with a friend, Billy Walsh - no, not that one, and there was a song on the jukebox that featured a synth. I don't remember the tune but remember expressing my disappointment that the music in and of itself was weak but the sound of the synth made it sound so much better.

My friend Bill said something like this, It's all relative. You take someone who can really play and write well and who plays a synth, and it's that much better.

I never forgot that.

THANKS! great documentary

Sweet, can't wait to check this out.

I hope they don't block any more vids because of "copyright restrictions."

For those that are having episode 9 blocked, you can use a proxy. I used german-proxy.de.

Wow, great stuff!!! Thanks a lot!

thanks so much for posting this...went and pulled out all my Ultravox and Cabaret Voltaire records today...

Can't watch YouTube, or videos in general, at work or at home (maybe a new computer will change that, as I already have high-speed broadband internet, so it must be other issues as the browser uses up over 50% CPU and memory even with one tab open).

I'm going to guess, though, that it is the same series of videos featured at SonicState.com recently. I couldn't watch those either, of course!

On a side note, there is an excellent DVD called "Made in Sheffield" that I bought a couple of years ago, which not only interviews all the famous bands from there, but goes into the background of how and why the Sheffield scene ended up being such a trail-blazing one for synth-pop.

It partly had to do with it being poorer, and also many people working in technical jobs and have the electrical know-how to jury-rig their own or fix broken synths on the cheap.

Anyway, it's a highly-recommended video, if you can find it. And it forms an important part of the history of synths.

This is a good documentary but I do wish they talked a bit more about the synths.

I agree with that--lots of music and musician coverage there, but lacking on the synths themselves.

to be honest guys the audience for a show about synths would be very limited.

This show was shown on BBC3 or 4 I think... even those channels have limited audiences..

Steve:

Good to see you around again. Hope the Fine Frenzy tour went (or is going) well!

Noah

True, but they could have included more information about various synths of the time along with everything else.

well.. I think a documentary about late 70s synth bands from UK is geekdom enough for a BBC broadcast from my point of view.. theres been some great docs recetnly.. the prog rock one was good too.. ;-) They even had one on Krautrock (Can, TD, etc) recently too!