Music Mixes – Synth Pop

The Synth Pop genre primarily originates in late 1970s/early 1980s New Wave, the post-punk “alternative” rock movement that encompasses a wide range of styles and attitudes. There are some non-New Wave Synth Pop bands like Pet Shop Boys, but on the whole, the Synth Pop scene of the 1980s was dominated by a faction of New Wave bands that embraced the use of electronic instruments and relatively light, dance-oriented songwriting, yet still retained a fairly typical four-piece rock-band structure (percussion, lead instrument, bass instrument, vocal). Most Synth Pop combines electronic and other instruments, plus strong vocals and melodies, and elements of whatever dance music styles are popular at the time. The music generally isn’t very experimental, serious, or dark, but some Synth Pop bands like The Human League and members of the “minimal wave” scene explored a more alternative, moody sound at times. [Discogs]