Hot Girls Singing Over Synths (HGSOS). This French duo were really onto something with their minimal synths, stripped-down rhythm compositions and suitably cold female lyrics. This prime example of French minimal synth pop was no doubt influenced by their proximity to Germany as the cool synth-laden air traveled down from Les Alpes. Presented here is Paris / Orly the b-side from their Europe 7" published in 1985 on André Records.

SCHEMATIC: Videos for Felicita and Game and Performance...

That French accent slays me...

Deux - Felicita (1983)

Deux - Game and Performance (1983)

Warm up the robot! Any one of these vintage machines presented in our youtube playlist will transform you (or a loved one) into a Cylon. To start it off, let Giorgio Moroder magically transport you to the wonderful world of vocoders in this Casablanca Records promo video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTxeZ1HDg34

SCHEMATIC: Want more? Check out the entire playlist...

Back in 1980, these Italian brothers gave Daft Punk a blueprint for combining vocoder-laden electronic music, cosmic story lines and robot animé. Be kind, please rewind.

SCHEMATIC: Candid photos, original cover art and record scans...

OK. Check this out: Super hot italian chick doubles as an electronic music pioneer, gets sponsored by Apple and Roland in the 1980s and eventually becomes a consultant to IBM. **sigh**

All video clips taken from the 1984 LP Personal Computer on Durium.

http://youtu.be/FDuIgaC2524

SCHEMATIC: Two more videos and high res studio photo...

Doris Norton - Norton Apple Software

I flipped when I found this at the record store today for CAN$8! Are you kidding me?! This incredible track is the result of a long-forgotten collaboration between the Roxanne-era Police and German composer/keyboard player Eberhard Schoener. Seriously! Sting on vocals and bass, Steward Copland on drums/percussion and Andy Summers on guitar with Schoener laying it down heavy on the synth. Sting's signature voice and the song's slow build opens the door for uniquely anxious lyrics. Infectious and awesome.

SCHEMATIC: Weird Video Magic live performance video, cover art and record scans...

The song Video Magic pretty much sucks, but the video is weird enough to justify the post.

Why Don't You Answer? first appeared in 1978 on Schoener's album Flashback, only to return on the compilation Video-Magic in 1981.