Can you suggest old or new synth-pop songs that would go nicely with "Leipzig" by Thomas Dolby?

I'm looking for a few songs to go along with "Leipzig", which is the B-side from Thomas Dolby's 1st single "Urges" (1981). It also appeared on certain versions of the album "The Golden Age of Wireless" (1982). The song lyrics conjure up cold war themes, or perhaps post-WW2 visions. This era of Thomas Dolby always feels a bit "steam-punky" to me, in the original sci-fi sense (not so much the "top hats with gears hot-glued on and built-in goggles" vibe that steam-punk Halloween costumes currently have...)

This would be a short set on a radio show. I'm thinking there must be some Kate Bush, or YMO songs that would team up nicely - but what about more recent bands or songs(post-2000)?

There's a raft of early OMD songs that spring to mind -

Bunker Soldiers, Pretending To See The Future, 2nd Thought, Statues, Stanlow (tbh most of the Organisation record), Georgia, International, Telegraph

OMD's Messerschmitt Twins is the first one that comes to mind actually

also Gary Numan - Replicas (the song), Complex, Down in the Park

definitely a few YMO songs that go with that vibe - Insomnia, Ballet, a lot of stuff on Technodelic.

Ymo song that came to mind for me was “absolute ego dance”

'Direct Lines' by the Electronic Circus? Making the connection from the sad-nuclear-era-synthpop angle.

Some early (the) Nits tunes as well, Holiday On Ice, Office At Night, Red Tape

I've been trying to think of newer stuff that fits the bill. Best I've got so far is "Haffmilch Holiday" by Decisive Pink.

From the same era, and assuming it's the musical atmosphere you're talking about, rather than, necessarily, the evocation of suburban ennui:

"White Car in Germany" - The Associates
"It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (In the video, Dolby appears as the faithless Johnny)
"Beautiful World" - Devo
"Love Shadow" - Fashion
"Walking in the Rain" - Flash and the Pan
"Under Your Thumb" - Godley & Creme
"Marianne" - The Human League
"Taking Islands in Africa" - Japan
"Dancing Girls" - Nik Kershaw
"Homosapien" - Pete Shelley
"I Hang On to My Vertigo" - Rupert Hine
"I Want to See the Light" - Rational Youth
"Bamboo Music" - Ryuichi Sakamoto and David Sylvian

All the non-YMO-universe recs are new to me -- including the Dolby song the thread starts with -- but currently this thread culminates in a Bamboo Houses rec, so obviously I need to make a playlist of all this and listen ASAP.

Utopia by Goldfrapp (came out in 2000 so not quite post-2000, but close)

"It's My Party" - Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin (In the video, Dolby appears as the faithless Johnny)

Dave Stewart & Barbara Gaskin also recorded their own version of Leipzig (it's good, but doesn't quite have the same wistful quality as Dolby's version imo)

"Utopia" is a very good suggestion.

For 80's steampunky synthpop you could try "P-Machinery" by Propaganda. Doesn't have the quiet melancholy of Leipzig though, more of a goth Cabinet of Caligari vibe. Honestly I think they were trying to evoke more of a Metropolis aesthetic with this song, but that's close enough to Steampunk.

John Foxx - Europe After The Rain, or if you want to go a bit colder, Underpass or No One Driving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkZ_YhtMn-c

Things it made me think of were Bill Nelson ('When Your Dream Of Perfect Beauty Comes True', 'When The Birds Return') and Thomas Leer ('Chasing The Dragon', 'International')

All the non-YMO-universe recs are new to me -- including the Dolby song the thread starts with -- but currently this thread culminates in a Bamboo Houses rec, so obviously I need to make a playlist of all this and listen ASAP.

― TheNuNuNu, Tuesday, December 3, 2024 10:26 AM (one hour ago) bookmarkflaglink

if you don't know Golden Age of Wireless I'd rectify that immediately - one of the most surprisingly good one-hit wonder albums I've ever heard, especially since the hit wasn't even part of the original tracklisting. so you really want the recent version with the bonus tracks - "Leipzig" I think was on the original LP, but most versions you'll find don't have it

That and the Harmonia albums, alright -- before 2025.

I never did write about listening all the way through Thing-Fish, hang on...

idk if it's synth pop "v-2 schneider" by bowie from "heroes" fits imo

*but

Here's the playlist I ended up with - thanks very much to everyone for the suggestions! They led me to all sorts of good stuff. I ended up with waaay more than needed for a 2 hour radio show, but now I have lots of great new-to-me stuff for future shows too. The archive link is here if you want to listen.
- - - -
Thomas Dolby - Leipzig
Flash And The Pan - Walking In The Rain
John Foxx - Europe After the Rain
Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
Hawklords - (Only) The Dreams of The Cold War Kids
OMD - Almost
Fred - All Rights Reserved
Gary Numan - Tracks
Soviet - Commute
Dalek I - Dalek I Love You
Freur - Matters Of The Heart
Black Marble - One Eye Open
Apparat Organ Quartet - Konami
Bill Nelson - Hope for the Heartbeat
Yellow Magic Orchestra - Mass
Propaganda - P-Machinery
Chvrches - Recover
Joan Armatrading - I'm Lucky
Francis & the Lights - See Her Out
Anne Clark - Sleeper In Metropolis
Thomas Dolby - Sale Of The Century
New Musik - Science
The Electronic Circus - Direct Lines
The Nits - Uncle On Mars
A Flock of Seagulls - Telecommunication
Rational Youth - I Want To See The Light
Obscure by Degrees - I'm Dying

I didn't know you were based in Rochester! Awesome, I used to DJ on WRUR when I was a student. I'm enjoying the recording!