Electrical language : independent British synth pop 78-84

"The old box set cliché holds true. There is an excellent disc or even two-disc-length compilation to be found in Electrical Language. The rest is an antique mall".

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"Cherry Red's four-CD anthology Electrical Language: Independent British Synth Pop 78-84 focuses on the electronic side of the post-punk era, compiling 80 examples of how musicians embraced technology and broke away from guitar-based conventions, reshaping the sound of pop music from the ground up. As with the label's other genre-specific multi-disc sets, this one demonstrates how broad its subject actually is - barely-in-tune first takes by teenage basement dwellers are juxtaposed with more ambitious, fully conceptualized productions by future pop stars ... Nearly every track included is fascinating, and the detailed liner notes put everything into perspective, filled with photos and cover artwork, as well as recollections from many of the artists".

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"There are so many more gems on Electrical Language that a review four times as long wouldn't do it justice, (how have I not even mentioned Fad Gaget, Section 25 or Camera Obscura -not that one!), but the main message here is that this compilation is very accessible; though many of the acts may be considered relatively obscure, there are so many singles here that, with an ounce of luck, could have followed the likes of The Mobiles and Human League into the upper reaches of the charts. It's an absolute treasure trove".

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