Customer Reviews

Music for Parties

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4 star:		(4)
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According to the sleeve notes the Silicon Teens were Darryl (vocals), Jacki (synthesizer), Paul (elecronic percussion) and Diane (synthesizer). In reality the mystery 4 piece were in fact just a 1 piece...Mute founder, Daniel Miller. 'Music For Parties' is a synth-pop delight and comprises mostly of electronic-fuelled cover versions of classic 50's & 60's rock 'n' roll hits including the 7" only singles, 'Just Like Eddy', 'Judy In Disguise', 'Memthis, Tessesse' and 'Red River Rock' which featured on the soundtrack to 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles' starring Steve Martin and John Candy.

This is actually not a band, but Daniel Miller, the man behind the much rawer The Normal, as well as the head of Mute Records. This album, purporting to be by an electronic teenie-pop band, is actually a bunch of covers of 50s and 60s AM radio pop tunes, redone in pure synth instrumentation. So in a sense, it's something of a precursor to the more recent Moog Cookbook, but to be honest, it's a lot more fun. One gets the impression that this was done purely for kicks, in fact, right down to the cheeseball teenybopper party cover art. It's infectious stuff, too, and Miller's 'Kraftwerkizing' of tunes that should be familiar to anyone who's spent any time listening to an oldies station is often amusing, and 100% entertaining. About the only flaw with it is that you sort of get a bit much for your money here...it's like trying to eat one of those huge chocolate bars that kids sell for fundraisers all at one sitting. But if you're into electronics, this is one to have, especially if you've got a big multichanger; just stick this in, and hit random, and let the Silicon Teens deliver a bit of lighthearted synthetic fun in between all the other tracks.

These minimalist, pure synth reworkings of pop and rock classics are great fun to listen to and of course, perfect for parties. My favorites include Memphis Tennessee, Chip 'n Roll, Let's Dance, Red River Rock and Judy In Disguise. It's really infectious stuff - the songs are all very tuneful and rhythmic with a pure pop sensibility. With so many tracks however, the effect can be a bit overwhelming, so play them five at a time to really appreciate each song individually. Those who love the synth-pop of the late 1970s and the 1980s, like Gary Numan, Human League, Kraftwerk, Klaus Nomi, OMD, Eurythmics, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Suicide, Yaz(oo) or the Pet Shop Boys will certainly find something to enjoy here. In a way, the music is deconstructive like the Residents on their American Composers series, but unlike the weirdness of the Residents, it is immediately accessible and rhythmically appealing. The musician behind the Silicon Teens project was Daniel Miller. I highly recommend his other work from the period, like Warm Leatherette/TVOD by The Normal.

T.V.O.D./Warm Leatherette

The OMD Singles

Suicide (First Album)

Catching Up with Depeche Mode

Dare!

I haven't bought this in CD version yet,but will soon. I have it in the original LP version and was sad when the hiss and crackles made it too awful to listen to anymore.
The POINT of this review? I first heard of this from within the early 80's punk/hard rock skateboard scene...which was wierd, because this cutesy,synth music is a million miles away from all that! People were divided on DEVO,and those that got THAT,got THIS album. While this is no DEVO by far, it is very unique and was impossible to find for years and years.
This is for laughs,background music to altered states,nothing more.
We use to play this between journeys while club-hopping and it was funny as all get out.
This CD is so far left of anything else, I only recommend this if you are eternally cool,slick,hip and above and beyond old or new school.
Hilarious stuff!

These synth ditties are great fun to listen to and of course, perfect for parties! My favourites include Memphis Tenessee, Chip 'n Roll, Let's Dance, Red River Rock and Judy In Disguise. It's really infectious stuff - the songs are all very melodic with a pure pop sensibility and I have to agree with the other reviewer that perhaps there's just too many tracks here to enjoy in one sitting. So play them five at a time. Also explore Daniel Miller's other work like Warm Leatherette by The Normal.