Skulk - Skulkete Graebbi Mix by Icon of Coil (Echo Image)
Spellbound - Run Level Zero Mix (Moulin Noir)
Vast - SIX's Colossal Mix (New Clear Sky)
Autumn Leaf - Iris Mix (Merge)
Undertow - Dead Star Mix by Icon of Coil (Count to Infinity)
Emptiness Your Loneliness - Echo Image Remix (Sweep)
Control - Domination Mix (The Nine)
Defeat - DJ Ram Mix (Cosmicity)
Until You Say You Are - Iris Mix (System22)
Play - Club Mix (Neuroactive)
Picture On the Wall - Maxi Mix (KAJ)
Heart With a View - Echo Image Remix (The Echoing Green)
Beyond Here and Now - Intensified (Neuropa)
SKYInverted - Motions Through a Cosmos Mix (Blue October)
I Began to Hope - Maxi Mix (Wave In Head)
A Different Drum has become America's leading synthpop label and this compilation puts together fifteen of the most popular synthpop dance tracks released by the label. If you want a sing-along synthpop song with a poundin... more »g dance beat and fun attitude, then this collection is for you! If you're interested in discovering some of the modern synthpop scene's finest acts, then this release will also give you an excellent taste.« less
A Different Drum has become America's leading synthpop label and this compilation puts together fifteen of the most popular synthpop dance tracks released by the label. If you want a sing-along synthpop song with a pounding dance beat and fun attitude, then this collection is for you! If you're interested in discovering some of the modern synthpop scene's finest acts, then this release will also give you an excellent taste.
"Pure synthpop dance enjoyment! Although I've never been to a synthpop dance club, I can imagine that this CD is what would be playing. The compilation is packed with 79 minutes' worth of very upbeat remixes by a mixture of some of the more definitive names in synthpop (Echoing Green, Cosmicity, etc) as well as some relative newcomers (Sweep, Echo Image, etc).If you like even a few of the artists on this compilation, I highly recommend picking up a copy because you will be exposed to a lot of other great material! I had never heard anything from New Clear Sky or Merge, but the two songs by these artists are easily two of my favorites on this album. The System22 song is another favorite, featuring the vocals of Reagan from Iris. And of course, the contributions from long-time artists such as Echoing Green, Cosmicity, and Neuroactive do not disappoint. I'd say the style of music is pretty representative of the upbeat side of synthpop. If you enjoy Iris, Cosmicity, Echoing Green, Color Theory, Neuropa, etc, you would definitely like this album. These are all some of my synthpop favorites, and this compilation is one of my favorites from A Different Drum (given the 10 or so that I have by ADD). I bought the CD because 1) I really enjoy the Different Drum label's compilations, and 2) for the low price, it's a great bargain! The music on here is leagues beyond anything you'd hear on the radio.Definitely worth the investment. A great CD for an intense workout or a fun drive on the highway, this CD is packed for a solid 79 minutes of synthpop goodness. Pop it in your CD player, turn up the volume, and dance!"
A Quite Good Idea Actually,
D. H. Richards | Silver Spring, MD USA | 11/10/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is no secret that synthpop is one of those genres that gets stuck into a corner- not rock enough to the alt crowd, not "adult" enough for the Norah Jones crowd. Plus the fact that most of the music is "machine" driven further forces synthpop bands into a corner. But by trying to invade a little acre of clubland synthpop has been able to stake out its own piece of the pie. Ok, enough with the metaphors. Here's the review-
Gotta love the Moulin Noir "Spellbound" mix, exciting, new wave flavoured (with a "u") dance pop."Vast" by New Clear Sky is a great song and the mix here just adds a cool ebm'ish feel. Same for Sweep, a great song that gets a harder edge.In fact really all of the mixes here are truly club ready. If that takes them out of traditional 80s style synthpop, so be it. At least it breaths fresh air into the brain-dead club music one hears so often at 1 a.m."
Not what I thought...
D. Hansen | UT | 04/16/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I ordered this CD off the strength of the title (because who doesn't love the classic club anthems?) and I was disappointed. While the songs do fit the description I was expecting more songs along the lines of Front 242's Headhunter or maybe even an Echoing Green song. Now I have a CD with mostly mediocre and a couple better-than-average synthpop tracks. It's nice to have but I don't feel it lives up to the hype."
Tremendous Sampler
D. Hansen | 11/15/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I love this compilation! It is very nearly a greatest hits album of the great synthpop label A Different Drum. Highlights for me are the songs by Echo Image, Merge, Sweep, System22, and The Echoing Green. As with all compilations there are a few songs of which I'm not that fond, but this is one of the best all around compilations I've ever heard. It is also a great primer on some of the best synthpop released in the last few years. I fully intend to purchase another copy for use as a gift in hopes of a synthpop conversion."
Synthpop Club Anthems Review
Jeffrey R. MacCarty | Pottstown, PA USA | 11/12/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fantastic disc for anyone looking to find out how far electronic music has come since the early days of MTV. Make no mistake about it--this is no mild-mannered '80's re-hash here. This hard-pumping collection will have you out on the dance floor from start to finish! There are some great re-mixes here from some of Future-pop's big players (Icon of Coil, Neuroactive), and if you can't move your feet to these tracks, you may want to check your pulse.
This is not just music for the clubs, however--just about every one of these tracks has a prominent hook or chorus that will have you singing along in the car after a few listens. All of these tunes break the "I'm-trying-to-sound-like-Depeche-Mode" mold, for which the genre is often criticized. Featuring artists from the US (Cosmicity, Echoing Green)and from overseas (The Nine, Echo Image), this compilation presents a variety of styles with a single purpose--hard-hitting club tracks. For anyone even remotely interested in electronic music--take a chance on this disc. No, you won't find that ump-teenth re-mix of an old OMD or Human League tune, but with the variety of artists showcased here, you're sure to find something you like."