Back catalogue: Coldwave/Synth

Review: When Air's Moon Safari first landed on terra firma in 1997, it was a revelation that flipped the French touch boom on its head. Swapping discoid thrust for sensual lounge, Nicolas Jean Godin and Jean-Benoit Dunckel kept a certain sophisticated nostalgia in their sound which tracked with their compatriots, but they absolutely weaved their own spell with it. The hits caught on for good reason, from the dirty grind of 'Sexy Boy' to the swooning romanticism of 'All I Need' featuring Beth Hirsch on vocals, but the moments in between merely added to the spectacle, lodging Air in the hearts and minds of a whole generation. This special anniversary edition adds a second disc of B-sides, remixes and session tracks, plus a Blu-ray disc featuring the iconic videos and a documentary from the Moon Safari era.

Review: For the uninitiated, Robin Crutchfield was one of the key early figures in New York's infamous "no wave" music scene, first as part of influential band DNA and then as the leader of his own outfit, Dark Day. This essential three-CD set tells the story of the hard-to-pigeonhole outfit's original incarnation between 1979 and 1989, offering a chronological trip through the pitch-black corners of the unique combo's slim but perfectly formed catalogue. The Dark Day sound was undoubtedly unique, with Gary Numan-ish synth sounds and arty, stylised vocals being underpinned by heavy, loose-limbed rhythms provided by two drummers. The accompanying booklet tells the story of the band in decent detail, too, making it as much an introduction as a celebration.

Review: Featuring as it does six discs of live recordings, Music Portrait is veritable feast for Depeche Mode fans. All of the material was originally recorded for radio broadcasts. Discs one and two feature what appears to be an almost complete 1998 concert featuring such perennial favourites as 'Policy of Truth', 'Personal Jesus', 'It's No Good' and 'Just Can't Get Enough' (a triumphant, sing-along conclusion all told), while CD three offers up 11 songs from a set recorded in 2005. The other three discs feature recordings of solo outings from Dave Gahan, with big Depeche Mode hits being joined by personal favourites and deep cuts from the Basildon Band's 40-plus year career.

Review: This 2024 edition of Lament by Ultravox is a comprehensive, end-all-others 7CD + DVD deluxe edition expander including a (you won't believe) 72 tracks, with a newly remastered version of the album alongside a fresh 1980s-style extended remix. The seventh studio album by British new wave pioneers, Lament marked the final appearance of original drummer Warren Cann until the band's reunion in 2012 with Brilliant. But despite the name and the grievous context, the album was hardly lachrymose in sound, and it achieved much commercial success, owing to a prosperous prior experience with producers Conny Plank and George Martin, who drove its lush Chrysalis synthpop sound. Aforementioned remixes include contributions from Moby, Steve Wilson, Blank & Jones, and Midge Ure, while a newly mixed full concert recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in 1984 comes stapled in at the end. Mastered and cut by Phil Kinrade and Barry Grint at Air Mastering, London.

Review: To celebrate Midge Ure's 70th birthday and his remarkable seven decades in music, he delivered a spectacular sold-out concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, showcasing a rich tapestry of his career. This 3CD set captures the full concert, divided into four sets: an acoustic set, an electric set, the complete performance of the Ultravox classic album Vienna and an encore filled with greatest hits. With the support of his long-time band Electronica and special guests Caroline Dale and Ty Unwin, Ure's performance was both nostalgic and electrifying. Newly mixed by Richard Whittaker, the setlist features a host of unforgettable tracks, including Ultravox staples like 'Reap the Wild Wind', 'Hymn' and the iconic 'Vienna'. The inclusion of his #1 hit 'If I Was' and Visage's timeless 'Fade to Grey' adds to the nu-romantic essence that Ure helped define. This collection is a testament to Ure's enduring legacy, celebrating his evolution as an artist while thrilling fans with a blend of emotional ballads and energetic anthems. It's a fitting tribute to a career that has profoundly influenced the music landscape.

Review: The music of London's Blitz nightclub is celebrated with a new box-set curated by Rusty Egan, the man who, with Steve Strange, helped usher in a transition from the late 70s musical gloom into a glamorous, sonorous new 1980s. After their prior band, Rich Kids, disbanded in 1978, Egan and Strange saw through their enterprising excesses with a new venture, launching the Blitz club as a wine bar in Covent Garden. Bottling the unique, generic essence of the nightclub - at a time where the styles and sounds of David Bowie, Sade, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, Billy Idol, Ultravox, Visage, Marilyn and Gary Numan reigned supreme, yet were often not heard all in one physical place - this new reminiscence compilation brings both well-known and lesser-heard gems of the Blitz era to a fantastically fresh set of ears, proving that even you, too, can be a hero, just for one day.