synth-funk and its relation to new wave

[bpdp3]

Seems like every month or so I go through a new musical 'phase'; lately it's been early to mid-80's (what I call) synth funk. It started when I picked up a record by Man Parrish two weeks ago. Synths, drum-machines...I think to myself, why is this so different than new wave?

While I do appreciate classic disco and acknowledge that its 'thumpa thumpa' is not all that different from the 'thumpa thumpa' of say Dead or Alive, the heavy use of orchestration in disco (especially string sections, lots of female backup singers, etc) kind of kills it for me sometimes. With this notion of synth funk, it seems things are more stripped down. Most everything performed on synth, with great early-80's drum machine sounds.

Tracks like "Operator" by Midnight Starr, certainly alot of Prince tracks (I always liked Prince more when he's cold and synthetic than soulful and 'r&b'), Loose Ends' "Hanging on a String", Mtume "Juicy Fruit", "Walking on Sunshine" by Rockers Revenge, "Jam On it" by Newcleus, Bambatta's stuff - - I'm just listing what's on the top of my head at the moment.

I know that these songs are not new wave, but they're so close in terms of sound/production/timeframe that I find myself discovering and enjoying this genre. These groups and songs are mostly by black artists, but what if they were sung by a nervous English white guy...would they then become new wave?

I'd love to know what others think about comparing the two genres, and hear of other songs in the synth-funk (a term I'm just using vaguely) vein....

[WolverineSyr]

I think there is a good connection between what I called post-disco and more synth based new wave.
I think dance music was trying to find a footing after the collapse of disco, and tried to find it's own new wave. Some musicians followed a natural evolution to something more stripped down but also less organic than it's predecesor. (I do consider a lot of disco to be much more "organic" in nature beacuse of it's use of real orchestras, etc.)

There was a real trend in the "garage" crowd towards minimalization - sort of an anti-hi-nrg movement. Patrick Cowley is a good example of someone who pushed this style. You might like his tracks Megatronman, or Menergy. Sylvester worked with him and also put out a few songs in that style - I Who Have Nothing and Rock the Box.
Patrick Cowley also gave Donna Summer's I Feel Love a great sparse mix around 82 or so.

I remember this type of music was originally called hip hop by some people. How that genre changed!

Other good songs: Precious Wilson's I'll Be Your Friend, Joyce Simms - All in All.

[edisonoside]

After Kraftwerk's 1981 "Computer world" release they started a huge following with Black and Hispanics what was called Electro or Latin Freestyle. One of the first to follow this trend was Afrika Bambataa and the Soul Sonic Force with their hit "Planet Rock".A whole bunch of groups followed One of my favorites was "Jonzun Crew's" Space is the place and Pack Jam. Planet Patrol's "Play it at your own risk". "Funky Be-bop" by Vinzee. One of the biggest hits to come out of that genre was Shannon's "Let the music play". Prince's A-U-T-O-Matic has a bit of a Gary Numan feel to it.

[Scourge]

Actually, there should be a distinction between Bambaataa's techno infused hip-hop and the Electro Funk/Soul of people like Cameo or The Deele. They certainly sprung from the same places, but Bambaataa was a dj and mc, using breakbeats with new wave melodies overlayed with rap lyrics. Those others were using fairly common funk and soul rhythms and songs but replacing the instrumentation with keyboards and synthesizers and a drum machine. I enjoy both.

Check out The Deele's "Body Talk" or "Suspicious". Also, check out Hall & Oates' "Crime Pays".

[NuWaveRx]

I agree that comparison is closest when comparing synth-pop and electro-funk's instrumentation but the line between the two genres can be closer than you think--remember when Zapp's Roger guest "vocodered" on Scritti Politti's "Boom! There She Was"?

It seemed that a lot of these bands were The_____
The SOS band
The Gap Band
The Dazz Band

I own stuff by the latter two bands--good stuff to exercise to

[WolverineSyr]

I love the SOS Band. I remember Just be Good to Me getting a lot of play at new wave clubs. Although no one would consider it remotely new wave, it shows that shared love for synths and technology.

[NuWaveRx]

[quote][i]Originally posted by WolverineSyr[/i]
<br>I love the SOS Band. I remember Just be Good to Me getting a lot of play at new wave clubs. Although no one would consider it remotely new wave, it shows that shared love for synths and technology.
[/quote]

I remember the same thing about the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip"

[Scourge]

[quote][i]Originally posted by NuWaveRx[/i]
<br>The Dazz Band[/quote]

God, I sat here trying to think of the name of this group and it just would not come to me. Thanks!

[bruiser]

this is a great discussion, as i have always loved electro-funk and thought it a close cousin to the new wave sound. black artists were on the cutting edge here, in terms of production, sound collaging, synthetics, etc. etc. and it spilled over into r&b; the pointer sisters had some beautifully produced electro albums in the early 80's, and scored HUGE hits with them. meanwhile, depeche mode had those crappy drum machine sounds and blippy production. which i adore, don't get me wrong. but somehow r&b artists were at the forefront as to what sounded new and fresh. i burned a 3 cd set of electro funk classics last year, and listen to it weekly. there is also a series put out by spg music (canada? i think) called "old school jams" that is fantastic. sample songlist:

fresh by kool and the gang
candy by cameo
oh sheila by rftw
midas touch midnight star
planet rock by afrika bambaata
white horse by laid back
genius of love by tt club
body mechanic by quadrant six
al-naafiysh by hashim (a classic)

i love the stuff you guys talk about here. except for how there's no good music anymore.

[WolverineSyr]

You may want to check out Busting Out by Material, Nona Hendryx sings on it - great song.

I recall electro was pretty huge in the UK - or at least reported in the states as being huge "over there."

Allmusic.com has a good biography & tons of samples of Patrick Cowley's music - check it out!

You may also want to check out anything labeled "Detroit Techno." Here's a good link about the genre & artists: http://www.jahsonic.com/DetroitTechno.html

[Oslo]

I remeber Hey You by Rock Steady Crew as electro/Latin Freestyle, or what about The Message by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
I must agree with those who admit they are weak for this genre.
As mentioned they were all influensed by Kraftwerk.

[Spectre General]

I definitly like this style of music, but it's hard to find. I've got a decent amout of Laid Back, Gap Band, and Midnight Star. I actually think many 80's Kool & The Gang songs are right up there. Even some Commodores, I've been trying to find a Commodores song called "Animal Instinct" it's definitly on the synth side of things.

[schwenko]

I believe that the Pet Shop Boys' "Why Can't We Live Together" would fit into this category. The original New York mix can be found on the second disk of the Please(further listening 1984-1986) release.

[InvisibleMan]

heh heh this is an awesome topic! Maybe not NW, but I think a few NW bands were influenced by Funk and Disco.

Lately I've been listening to Pointer Sisters - Telegraph Your Love and it is a really neat 80's synth track, rather NW and very underrated I think [:D]

also check out for example Change - Take You to Heaven, awesome synth Italo/Funk with killer vocals [:)]

also Starpoint had good stuff too, anyone remember them???

[budaniel]

As I continue to build my ultimate 80s collection, I've reached further into subgenres for which I always had just the 'hits', and about a year ago I started picking up a lot of what I call "street beat" stuff of the era, after watching a string of 80s DVDs--Beat Street, Breakin 1&2, Body Rock, etc. The soundtracks to some of these movies had a great fusion of electro/synthpop/hip hop/rap/funk sounds of the early 80s. Actually, the 2 volumes of soundtracks for Beat Street have just been reissued, currently only available at collector's choice music as an exclusive, but that site usually just gets things like this early before they go over to all CD sellers.

It's important to bring up Kraftwerk, because one of the standout moments in the Breakin movie features their song:

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