Starter, across one album, took a whimsical journey into this new electronic world. They are not afraid to experiment, rather they actively seek a break from the norm. Jeff and Jane Hudson in their early sounds take cues from traditional sounds, with elements of rock and folk coming through.
[Dark Entries Shop] The Summer is rapidly speeding by. Likewise, the synth wave resurgence is gaining ever more momentum. June saw Dark Entries release two fading images of the past, the American twosome of Jeff & Jane Hudson alongside Swiss new wave outfit Starter.
Starter came together in 1980, inspired by the new wave sounds beginning to arrive across the Alps. Originally Stephen Eicher was part of the group, but left well before the debut album Starter came out. 2011 marks thirty years since this pioneering LP was released, good time for a re-issue. The album opens with “Lunapark,” a piece ruminating over NDW notions. “Is This Love” slows the tempo, the piece having a much more synthwave mood to it.“Minijupe” is a track that seeks to combine different elements of the burgeoning wave sound. Synthesizer heavy, “Minijupe” has obvious influences from rock and the post punk era, bringing all together for a synth pop assembly. It’s soon apparent that Starter are not going to stick to one style, but hop back and forth into varied genres and languages. An undercurrent of angst cuts through the album coupled with a scattiness to the vocals, as in “Plastic.” “Version 1” sees the machinery given centre stage before absurdity arrives with “Tarzan and Jane.” “Machinedrum” is a all about the equipment, one for the house revivalists and jakers. Starter have a robotic quality to them, growing primarily from the staccato lyricist. The club track is held until the end, with the 1985 single “Victim.” Dripping with industrial influences “Victim” is a primal piece of wave pop, quality EBM of A Split Second tradition with a bit of HI NRG to boot. [Listen to this release on Soundcloud]
Now for a quick flight to Boston to catch up with Jeff and Jane Hudson. For this journey Dark Entries have teamed up with Captured Tracks to resuscitate J&J’s back catalogue. The 2LP not only features the seminal Flesh album of 1983, but a host of other obscurities from 7”s and Eps. This is a mammoth twenty track operation and a real exploration of Jeff and Jane Hudson. The world of this duo is introduced through the subtle tones of “3×3,” with industrial echoes and absorbing vocals. The pace quickens with the electro pop energy of “Fat of the Land.” J&J openly investigate the abilities of their new machines, turning their hands at synth wave whilst inserting some of the traditional sounds of post punk alongside the gleaming new ideas of factory music. Many of the tracks still sound well beyond their time, such as “Help Me” having an E.M.A.K. futurism to it. Some of the sinister worries of the age come to a head, captured in “Operating Instructions” and “Los Alamos.” The second 12”, which opens with the ’81 EP World Trade has a much earlier electronic feel. The levels of experimentation are much higher, with the twosome jumping across styles and sounds. Nevertheless, a social commentary dissects the abstraction. The synth pop orientation returns with “Special World”, as arches of Roland synths bridge man and machine. J&J’s first 7” occupies the last two pieces of the album. The warbling lyrics and sounds of “No Clubs” leads into the clean and darkly lit “Dream”, Jane’s sultry vocals mixing beautifully with cold mechanical sounds. [Listen to this release on Soundcloud]
Despite the gulf of the Atlantic ocean dividing Starter and J&J Hudson, the two groups came from similar starting points. Both were influenced by the growing wave scene that was permeating record stores and airwaves. With this, the Swiss and U.S. groups were interested in the new stream of technology entering music. Armed with synthesizers, and some ideas, both went to the studio. Starter, across one album, took a whimsical journey into this new electronic world. They are not afraid to experiment, rather they actively seek a break from the norm. Jeff and Jane Hudson in their early sounds take cues from traditional sounds, with elements of rock and folk coming through. Yet, soon it is the synthesizer and drum machine that are at the core of their sound. The obvious comparison is to Chris and Cosey, an American counterpart if you will; and this isn’t a million miles off course. Jeff and Jane Hudson armed with and 808 and arsenal of Roland equipment are arguably the synth wave couple of the U.S. Dark Entries and Captured Tracks have managed to bring together the ultimate Jeff and Jane Hudson collection, a comprehensive double vinyl compilation. With Starter, DE have once more peered into the past and plucked out another obscure jewel. The Summer may be disappearing, but the DE team are too busy bringing the past to vinyl to notice..
Both releases are out now on Dark Entries. [Dark Entries Shop]
