Synth Britannia (2009)

Following a generation of post-punk musicians who went to form successful electronic bands in the 70s and 80s and had a profound impact on present day music.

Director:

Benjamin Whalley (as Ben Whalley)

Stars:

Dave Ball, Wendy Carlos, Chris Carter

Cast

Credited cast:
Dave Ball	...	Self
Wendy Carlos	...	Self (archive footage)
Chris Carter	...	Self
Joanne Catherall	...	Self
Vince Clarke	...	Self
Depeche Mode	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Eurythmics	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Cosey Fanni Tutti	...	Self
Andrew Fletcher	...	Self
The Flying Lizards	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Wolfgang Flür	...	Self
John Foxx	...	Self
David Gahan	...	Self (archive footage)
Martin Gore	...	Self
Heaven 17	...	Themselves (archive footage)

Storyline

Following a generation of post-punk musicians who went to form successful electronic bands in the 70s and 80s and had a profound impact on present day music.

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Plot Keywords:

electronic keyboard | industrial | synthesiser | synth pop | punk | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Did You Know?

Connections

Features A Clockwork Orange (1971)

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Soundtracks

Being Boiled
(uncredited)
Performed by The Human League

User Reviews

The 2nd British Invasion

The synthesizer was an obscure, expensive keyboard/gadget that was unknown in the age of loud guitars. But a few mavericks made use of the various sounds the instrument can do and inspired an entire generation of innovators and talents to take the promise of the instrument to the next and higher level. "Synth Britannia" chronicles the origins of the instrument from its simple beginnings to its dominant peak and eventual decline to its permanent place in the musical landscape. Tracing its start to the soundtrack of "A Clockwork Orange" and the German band Kraftwerk the documentary moves to its main theme of the music's hold on Britain and its story there. The early practitioners are well covered like Throbbing Gristle, The Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, The Normal, Ultravox and OMD. The floodgates burst open with the success of Gary Numan and Classic Synth was born, paving the way for the much maligned genre to be finally accepted in the mainstream ushering in a new wave of superstars like Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, Yaz and previously ignored acts like the aforementioned The Human League and OMD. Interviews and footage present a Britain in a time of social and economic turmoil with a hyper capitalist society and the talented musicians who emerged from these. Dismissing the traditional format of Punk while retaining its independent ideology the synth luminaries created some of the most compelling and groundbreaking music. With its cold, distinct, multifaceted sound the synthesizer dominated its time and changed music forever.

Details

Official Sites:

BBC [UK] Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 2009 (UK)

Also Known As:

Synth Britannia at the BBC

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color