Synthesizer Quest by Ethan Clark [[begining]] The year is [[1979]] and your name is Daniel Miller. After a couple years of wanting to make something like [[Autobahn]], you've finally saved up enough for the [[Korg 700S]] you saw at the music store. You've already gotten a 4 track tape recorder and a microphone. You just need this bit of kit to complete the lineup. You're infront of the store, all you have to do now is [[buy it.]] Punk is just starting to die out and give way to post punk. Normal rock and roll is starting to come back into promenence, but the attitue behind punk really inspires you. But that's only the [[begining]] for Miller. It's also the begining of [[The Future]] and some [[Manoeuvres in the dark.]] A little synthesizer you saw in the local music shop. It's cheap (kinda) and the LFO has a "repeat" function, which means you can do sequencer-like sounds and effects. But that's only the [[begining]] for Miller. It's also the begining of [[The Future]]. Getting back to your flat, you churn out two songs in a matter of hours. You want to send these to some big record labels as a demo, but you don't think any of them will sign you. Suddenly, you get a crazy idea. Why not make [[your own record label?]] The first record by the german electronic group Kraftwerk. It's melodic, it's hypnotising, it's even made entirely with synthesizers! But that's only the [[begining]] for Miller. It's also the begining of [[The Future]] and some [[Manoeuvres in the dark.]] You're just a couple computer opperators from east Sheffeild. One of you even scarificed learning to drive to buy their first synthesizer. Now that you all have keyboards, you want to start recording some of the noises these things can make. First you need to find a [[place to record.]] A teenager named Paul, on a whim, decided to attend a concert. There he heard the song [[Autobahn]] played live by Kraftwerk. This promted him, and his friend Paul, to try making electronic music. At first all they can do is make noisemakers out of old AM radios, but then, you spot something in your mom's [[Kays cataloge.]]You call the label "Mute", and after pressing about 800 copies of your weird experiments, you find some distributers. The 800 sell out relatively quickly as people start to take a liking to this style of music. You sign multiple artists, including [[Depeche Mode]]. Thank you for playing synthesizer quest. Would you like to see the [[begining]] of some other members of the early synthpop movement?Luckily for you, in [[1979]] lots of local buisnesses were closing down, leaving places that were cheap to rent. The three of you pitch in and take one of the places over. With a single track tape recorder at your sides, you start to document the weirdness, but you all want to do one thing. You want to write something like [[Autobahn]] or [[I Feel Love.]] For that you'll need a [[singer.]] One of the first disco songs to almost only use synthesizers as instruments. Produced by Georgio Morroder, it brought [[The Future]] together.One of the three of you recomends a guy he knows named Phillip. The three of you agree that he looks the part of a pop-star, but none of you know if he can sing. The group meets up with Phil and have him sing over a demo, Being Boiler, you recorded previously. He does a good enough job and you make him a member of the band. Just as you do however, one of the original 3 decides to leave and form a new band. Luckily for the new three of you, you've landed a recording [[contract.]]You record an album, Reproduction, and even hire a graphic designer to make slides for your live preformances. During the recording of the second album however, things take a turn for the worst. After it's completion, only Phil and the graphic designer remain members of the band. Desperate, you hire two teenage girls as backup vocalists and start a second tour. Do you [[Dare]] record another album?After a disaster of a second tour and record label execs nipping at your heels for a hit single, you release Dare. It's first couple singles don't really move the charts, but it's last single, Don't You Want Me, sells over 1,560,000 copies. You've finally made it to the relm of [[Autobahn]] and [[I Feel Love.]] Thank you for playing synthesizer quest. Would you like to see the [[begining]] of some other members of the early synthpop movement?You spot a selection of Korg synthesizers. Using the easy payment option of sending in small amounts of money over an extended amount of time, finally you have your first Korg [[MicroPreset]]. After buy a few second hand instruments like a combo organ and a 4 track tape recorder, you start to preform shows at [[Eric's]], the local pub under the title Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. You catch the eye of one Virgin Records excecutive and you get a [[recording contract.]]A stupidly simple one ocillator synth with limited sound editing options. It was the spark of some [[Manoeuvres in the dark.]] A club that played host to David Bowie, Joy Division, and some [[Manoeuvres in the dark.]] Using the advance given to you by Virgin you rent half of the upstairs of a local Liverpool music store. There you record your first single, [[Electricity]], and you first album, Orchestral Maneuvres in the Dark, to much critical praise and a fair bit of success. The future of pop music is almost here. Thank you for playing synthesizer quest. Would you like to see the [[begining]] of some other members of the early synthpop movement?The first single by Orchestral [[Manoeuvres in the dark.]] It's also the first song they wrote. It had the song "Almost" as the B side.Originally a duo made of Vince Clarke and Andy Fletcher. They wanted to be The Cure. After two more people joined the band (Martin Gore and Dave Gahan) Clarke heard the single [[Electricity]]. This song convinced him to make the band to all [[electronic.]]After procuring their synthesizers, they started to preform in local pubs and clubs. At one club called "Crocs", they met a man named Daniel Miller, who then signed them and produced their first album, Speak and Spell. Thank you for playing synthesizer quest. Would you like to see the [[begining]] of some other members of the early synthpop movement?