Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 190

Especially the first half of the 1980s. It was indescribable. I have sometimes told folks that the 1980s might have actually started around 1977-78 when the post-punk period started, and then ended around 1985 or so. It was a dark period, but out of it there was quite the creative ferment. Imagine a major label signing Laurie Anderson, or allowing her to issue a multi-LP experimental album. Shriekback, which never quite found its footing still had hits. No one would know what to make of them now. Gil Scott-Heron was still charting with proto-raps that were tearing the US government to shreds, exposing the racism, poverty and its consequences for anyone willing to listen. And then explain industrial music to folks. Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, 23 Skidoo. The Cabs had legit hits. David Byrne and Brian Eno were commissioned to release one of the more left-field LPs of 1981. As a teen keenly watching the musical guests on SNL right at the end of the 1970s and who also viewed a lot of other late night music shows on UHF stations, I was getting quite an education. It was a very unique era. One interesting side note: some electronica musicians this century began to pick up on some of the more minimal synthpop of the 1980s and used that to base a new form called minimal wave. Still some that happening today. None of that tops the charts. It’s all niche markets.