"I don't like country & western, I don't like rock music.... I don't like rockabilly! I don't like much really do I? But what I do like, I love passionately!!" CHRIS LOWE
he Electricity Club was formed in 2008 in a bid to be part of the emerging electropop scene. Several meetings followed to discuss how best to become involved in this vibrant scene.
These meetings were referenced in reports and subsequent meetings were arranged to discuss the outcome of the reports on the previous meetings. Some PowerPoint presentations were involved.
The final conclusion was aim to feature the best in new and classic electro AND pop. With informed opinion and trivia, this site is for like-minded people who are excited about pop music and not afraid to try something new.
Whether it's the heroes of Synth Britannia, the new wave optimism of "New Pop" or the current female-led "L-Word" electro generation, it all deserves your attention. A site that dares to mention LADY GAGA, LITTLE BOOTS, OMD, NEW ORDER and KRAFTWERK in the same breath? A site that likes to talk about the best of the new sounds that are emerging in an invigorated music scene? A site that prefers not to employ phrases such as "80's"?
That's the aim of The Electricity Club.
Or, as Bill Drummond once remarked:
"If you want to do something.. Really want to do something... Don't wait to be asked! Don't seek permission! Don't put off until you've passed the right exams, or paid or saved up enough money!
But be prepared to risk complete failure. Don't give a shit about whatever your mates or girlfriend or your boyfriend says.
Whatever it is, start now, TODAY.
Tomorrow is always too late."
This site will expand in the future with more features, interviews, previews and news.
Some PowerPoint presentations may be involved.
Contributors
MIKE COOPER
Mike is a keen synth music enthusiast, photographer and sometime writer, having been into electronic music since hearing Are Friends Electric? in 1979. Among his favourite albums are DEPECHE MODE Songs of Faith & Devotion, PROPAGANDA's A Secret Wish, and NEW ORDER's Power, Corruption and Lies.
He is also keen on the darker side of electronica, recently being a convert to techno and EBM/industrial music. His favourite gigs were DEPECHE MODE at Crystal Palace in 1993 and more recently, RECOIL in Berlin in 2010. Mike is also a fan of Post-Punk and New Wave, his first album being ADAM & THE ANTS' Dirk Wears White Sox.
JUS FORREST
Jus Forrest is a music writer and graduate of the British College of Journalism. A keen ULTRAVOX fan, she recently co-compiled the lavish Remembering Eden - 30th Anniversary Tour Book. Her first concert, not surprisingly was ULTRAVOX during the Quartet tour in 1982. While her musical interests and assignments of late have been primarily within the rock arena, she is also a classical music enthusiast, as well as handily crossing over into the values of TEC with her love of VISAGE, GARY NUMAN and DURAN DURAN.
At present, she is also a contributing editor to California's Igloo Magazine and was recently appointed by Rusty Egan as news editor for Blitz Club Records. She works on regular photographic assignments for the Guardian Media Group Radio brands. Jus is currently studying for a degree in Arts & Humanities with Music specialisation. Jus has worked professionally for a number of rock acts including Ray Phillips of BUDGIE and Alan Davey of HAWKWIND fame. She currently works freelance through her brand FNMedia specialising in PR, Photography and Journalism.
STEVE GRAY
As TEC's guest writer, Steve will be favouring 'The Dark Side of the Moog'. Steve interviewed GARY NUMAN in 1991 while he was a student DJ and has previously reported on DEPECHE MODE's live performances throughout Europe and loves LADYTRON. He also hails NINE INCH NAILS' "Pretty Hate Machine" as a classic album.
Officially, his first concert was GARY NUMAN at Bristol Pavillion but in reality, it was actually DEAD OR ALIVE during their "Youthquake" tour!
CHI MING LAI
Chi is a keen observer of the electronic pop genre whose work has rapidly gained respect and recognition over the last few years. His knowledge of the classic Synth Britannia era is almost encyclopaedic and he often gets text requests from friends needing help at pub music quizzes!
Among the legends he has interviewed are Andy McCluskey, Paul Humphreys, Claudia Brücken, Warren Cann, Rusty Egan, Martyn Ware, Glenn Gregory and Sarah Blackwood. He has previously been a writer for the student newspaper Times Up and the OMD magazine Messages. His first album was The Pleasure Principle by GARY NUMAN while his first concert was OMD at Hammersmith Odeon. Email:
NIX LOWREY
Nix is a professional music journalist whose previous interview subjects have included LADYTRON, JOHN FOXX, GARY NUMAN and HEAVEN 17. Among the publications she has written for are the prestigious music blog The Quietus and Inpress, a magazine that is part of the Streetpress group in Australia. She has also worked closely with fellow Melbourne residents PARRALOX.
Another TEC contributor who enjoys the darker side of electronic music, one of her favourite albums DEPECHE MODE's Black Celebration while among her favourite gigs are GARY NUMAN and NINE INCH NAILS, both in Melbourne. Her ambition is to interview Martin Gore from DEPECHE MODE.
BARRY PAGE
Barry is a former writer for Record Collector who became known for his detailed articles on OMD and THE LIGHTNING SEEDS. His first album purchases were Now That's What I Call Music 3 and HOWARD JONES' Dream Into Action. Although he let the side down a bit by making his first live experience DE LA SOUL in 1989, he soon put things right with gigs on ERASURE's Wild tour and DEPECHE MODE's unforgettable World Violation a year later.
Barry could be described as The Electricity Club's writer with the most eclectic taste, with interests varying from THE MAGNETIC FIELDS and BEN FOLDS to THE MONKEES and QUEEN. With his forthright views and sharp wit, he is TEC's 'voice of reason'.
RICHARD PRICE
Richard first started taking live photos during THE HUMAN LEAGUE's concerts in the noughties and his work has featured on some of their official merchandise.
More recently his successes have included his portfolio being used in the History Of Modern tour programme and also on the OMD and LITTLE BOOTS websites. His first album was also GARY NUMAN's The Pleasure Principle while his live initiation was ULTRAVOX at Hammersmith Odeon in 1981 where he bought a ticket off a tout for the then extortionate sum of £7!!
JOHAN WEJEDAL
Johan is a writer for the webzine www.synth.nu where his reviews and interviews can be viewed in Swedish. With the Nordic electronic scene being one of the most vibrant in the world, he will be giving his first hand reports in English for The Electricity Club.
His musical favourites include KRAFTWERK, JEAN MICHEL JARRE, DEPECHE MODE, MARSHEAUX and PAGE. Johan's first album was Forever Young by ALPHAVILLE while his favourite concert of all time is KRAFTWERK at the Stockholm Cirkus in 2004.
JER WHITE
Jer White (@afront) is a long-term synthpop fan whose website The Pansentient League even gets its name from the same sci-fi game as THE HUMAN LEAGUE. His work has been published in Rolling Stone magazine and his site has been featured in The Guardian, Wired magazine and Mashable. His devotion to THE HUMAN LEAGUE is recalled in Rob Grillo's recent book Is That The Twelve Inch Mix?
The album that changed his life was JEAN MICHEL JARRE's Oxygene which eventually led to musical journey that also included KRAFTWERK, OMD and ASSOCIATES. In an era where methods of listening to music are varied, Jer has been a strong advocate of the music streaming service Spotify.
