Don't know if this topic will get much response but I suppose this is as good a place as any to throw things out and see what it's all about.
Not so much as a 'where are they now' but 'who the heck were they anyway?'

Here's the first one: B. Troop

- apparently from Sheffield, active 79-81, produced a couple of singles and an album, classed in some places as synth pop although used guitars. Huh?

on discogs.com: http://www.discogs.com/artist/B.Troop

"it should have been a hit"single here: http://www.fade2grey.com/it-should-have-been-a-hit/b-troop/

Dunno if they were rare or obscure but Data were certainly neglected in their time. Elegant Machinery had some brilliant pop songs on it: Stop, Playing, Over 21 but despite videos and Sire records backing they just didn't make it here. No idea how they fared in Europe*

(*I know the UK's in Europe but you know what I mean)

Nope, no idea either Rads but I see they have a fascinating history, not least as their creator/leader Georg Kajanuswas the bloke who was in 70s outfit Sailor, as in "Glass of Champagne"!

http://www.kajanus.com/kajanusbiog.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DATA_(band)

..maybe they were big in Norway? (which is in Europe, but not the EC, or the euro..)

Metropolis

One "hit" wonders insofar I think they only had one record on Gargoyle Records.
I saw them in Stevenage (Bowes?) and they weren't bad, but clearly needed a bit more live experience. I kind of hoped they'd blossom, but.....! I remember Tears For Fears had just released Mad World, and was flying the "alternative" flag at the time - how things change??

Youtube “video” of the single.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZvv6qbR7aY <--found by core memory

Wow. MemberD, I am blown away (re: Data). I thought Sailor was a cheesy pop band (although I have used some of their music in family videos) and had NO idea about this guys heritage!!

"He is the son of Prince Paul Tchegodaieff of Russia and J. Kajanus, the award-winning Finnish/Norwegian sculptress. He is the great-grandson of Robert Kajanus: composer, conductor, confidant of Sibelius and founder of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the brother of actress and film-maker Eva Norvind and the uncle to Mexican theater and television actress, Nailea Norvind."

nice one Sols.. full marks for obscurity-ness. I found their single over on Crispy Nuggets where there is actually quite a lot of this sort of thing.

Yup .. some CV huh?

I'm voting for this Deutsche Amerikanische Freundschaft's better dressed and better looking cousins I was phonetically confused thinked it was about the singer's love for a Turkish Gastarbeiterin until I saw the title written down and realised it wasn't "Belly Dancer " just their feeble attempt to sound savvern English Apart from that it's immaculate Enjoy ! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiJZV2ipz9s

Dusting the vinyl rack and out popped Matt Fretton - "It's so high".

Racking my brains as to why I had it, I recalled seeing him support Depeche Mode back in 1982 (or 83?). He had a strong stage presence, and I recall (fuzzy) he went down well with the crowd (Hammersmith Odeon).

Despite being way too "poppy" for my narrow minded youthful self, I bought it anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pZTLBYPMxQ

... oh those pesky Twins get in every where!

Sols: I saw him support Ver Mode in 1984, so may have been later than you think (unless he did more than one tour) He was completely on his own just singing over backing tapes so had quite some quite flamboyant stage, er, moves to keep the interest up. In fact ithink Dave Gahan may have learned a lot from watching him in order to improve his own on-stage presence on later tours.

Anyway, not completely obscure but I jsut read that Liverpool's Dalek I Love You will be re-releasing their 1980 debut *on vinyl* soon.
Info from Medical Records here:
Dalek, I link you with links to samples on Soundcloud.

I will suggest Portion Control. Saw them support Blancmange in 84 and then I was impressed by their sessions on Janice Long's show. Meant to investigate further but never did. Plenty to explore and they're still going.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF2hLV-uBRk&feature=related

Nice one trees - sounds great. I remember the name, probably as Blancmange support.

Cheers Trees. I've never heard of Portion Control before. I like what I hear. The track Go-Talk reminds me a lot of Nitzer Ebb though.

This is a bit of quite clever fun.

Where's the harm, innit?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZaiB9jYCxI

ha ha, great stuff, now I'm never gonna get any sleep, this tune and those lyrics will be running through my head like a medieval puppet show... Oh No!



I'm pretty sure there's laws against whacking a midget's ass.

Sandii and the Sunsetz - Japanese group who worked muchly with the Yellow Magic Orchestra.

Yup, did a track with late-Japan era David Sylvian too.
http://www.davidsylvian.net/releases/regulars/15-compilations/1205-mad-mix-ii.html

Does Naked Lunch count? Or were they to non-obscure??

Ahhh - another support! Sandii supported Japan in 83? Or was it '84? But not a synth band, and actually quite famous here in Japan. She now sings/teaches Hula dance! I have no complaints - Hawaii is a great place and if you can catch the right/place and atmosphere, it can be absolutley divine!

I think Data was rather unknown in Norway - as well as in my country. In Sweden they had the largest audience? At least followers (like Swedish band Elegant Machinery).

I got hooked on Data in the eighties, and later found Sailor, resulting that in the nineties I several years listened their "The third step" over & again.

Few years ago Kajanus sung a Norwegian song (for the first time?).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC-YMELZeH8



Jean Sibelius' childhood home sits in the middle of my neighbouring town. Next year it is 150 years since his birth.
http://www.hameenlinna.fi/Kaupunki-info/...in-Hameenlinna/


About other obscure synthpop: Last week I found Gina X Performance's "Nice mover" lp, after twenty years searching. Got now all Gina's albums!