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Synth Britannia
Documentary about a generation of post-punk musicians, from The Human League to Gary Numan, who took the synthesiser from the experimental fringes to the centre of the pop stage.
Documentary following a generation of post-punk musicians who took the synthesiser from the experimental fringes to the centre of the pop stage.
In the late 1970s, small pockets of electronic artists including The Human League, Daniel Miller and Cabaret Voltaire were inspired by Kraftwerk and JG Ballard, and they dreamt of the sound of the future against the backdrop of bleak, high-rise Britain.
The crossover moment came in 1979 when Gary Numan's appearance on Top of the Pops with Tubeway Army's Are 'Friends' Electric? heralded the arrival of synthpop. Four lads from Basildon known as Depeche Mode would come to own the new sound, whilst post-punk bands like Ultravox, Soft Cell, OMD and Yazoo took the synth out of the pages of NME and onto the front page of Smash Hits.
By 1983, acts like Pet Shop Boys and New Order were showing that the future of electronic music would lie in dance music.
Contributors include Philip Oakey, Vince Clarke, Martin Gore, Bernard Sumner, Gary Numan and Neil Tennant.
Last on
Clips
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Gary Numan on inspiration
Duration: 01:53
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Gary Numan on first performing on TV
Duration: 02:23
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Gary Numan talks about negative reactions to his music
Duration: 02:27
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Vince Clarke talks about discovering synth music
Duration: 01:06
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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Depeche Mode
New Life
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Wendy Carlos
William Tell
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Wendy Carlos
Clockwork Orange Main Title
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00:03
Wendy Carlos
William Tell Overture (Rossini, Abridged)
-
00:06
Kraftwerk
Autobahn
-
The Clash
White Riot
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The Normal
Tvod
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The Normal
Warm Leatherette
-
The Future
4 Jg
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The Human League
Being Boiled
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Donna Summer
I Feel Love
-
Cabaret Voltaire
Seconds Too Late
-
Cabaret Voltaire
Nag Nag Nag
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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Messages
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00:23
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Enola Gay
-
00:26
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Electricity
-
00:28
Joy Division
Atmosphere
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John Foxx
Underpass
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Throbbing Gristle
Still Walking
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00:33
Throbbing Gristle
Hot In The Heels Of Love
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Fad Gadget
Back to Nature
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Silicon Teens
Memphis Tennessee
-
00:37
Gary Numan
Are Friends Electric?
Performer: Tubeway Army. -
00:38
Tubeway Army
Are Friends Electric
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00:40
Gary Numan
Cars
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Visage
Fade To Grey
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The Flying Lizards
Money
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00:45
Visage
Fade To Grey
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00:46
The Flying Lizards
Money (That's What I Want)
-
00:47
Depeche Mode
New Life
-
00:50
Depeche Mode
Just Can't Get Enough
-
00:53
The Human League
Don't You Want Me
-
Heaven 17
Penthouse & Pavement
-
Cabaret Voltaire
Landslide
-
Soft Cell
Tainted Love
-
00:57
The Human League
The Sound Of The Crowd
-
01:04
Yazoo
Only You
-
Yazoo
Don't Go
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Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark
Maid of Orleans
-
Eurythmics
Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
-
Ultravox
Vienna
-
Kraftwerk
The Model
-
Depeche Mode
Everything Counts
-
01:07
Yazoo
Don't Go
-
01:18
Depeche Mode
Master And Servant
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Depeche Mode
Master and Servant
-
Pet Shop Boys
West End Girls
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New Order
Ceremony
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New Order
Blue Monday
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Giorgio Moroder & Philip Oakey
Together In Electric Dreams
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01:24
New Order
Blue Monday
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01:25
Howard Jones
New Song
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The Human League
Don't You Want Me
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Depeche Mode
Just Can't Get Enough
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Producer | Ben Whalley |
Director | Ben Whalley |
Executive Producer | Mark Cooper |
Broadcasts
- Fri 16 Oct 2009 21:00
- Sat 17 Oct 2009 00:20
- Sun 18 Oct 2009 23:40
- Mon 19 Oct 2009 03:10
- Sun 21 Mar 2010 03:00
- Fri 26 Mar 2010 21:00
- Sat 27 Mar 2010 01:30
- Sat 22 May 2010 23:55
- Fri 30 Jul 2010 22:45
- Mon 2 Aug 2010 00:30
- Fri 11 Oct 2013 22:25
- Sat 12 Oct 2013 02:20
- Fri 29 Aug 2014 22:45
- Sat 30 Aug 2014 02:00
- Wed 31 Dec 2014 01:25
- Sun 18 Jan 2015 00:35
- Fri 30 Jan 2015 23:00
- Sat 31 Jan 2015 02:30
- Mon 2 Feb 2015 01:40
- Sat 1 Aug 2015 00:00
- Sun 1 May 2016 00:30
- Sun 9 Jul 2017 01:35
- Fri 2 Mar 2018 22:00
- Fri 1 Mar 2019 22:00
- Fri 6 Sep 2019 23:50
- Fri 8 Jul 2022 23:00
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