'80s Discoveries

Whether you lived the '80s the first time around, or hitched a ride on the retro-carousel, there's no doubt that the quality of the decade's rock and pop has been set in stone — there are so many great songs and influential artists, it's hard to keep track sometimes . . . so we looked beyond the obvious contenders and put together a selection of outstanding '80s tunes that have been obscured by the mists of time: "discoveries" that make up an alternative A-list, including that sliver of jangled brilliance, "Perfect Skin," by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, The The's captivating "Uncertain Smile" and Propaganda's electro-sophisticated "Dr. Mabuse". Get to know Kirk Brandon, and learn some more Modern English, in Next Steps.

Kirk Brandon's several contributions to the '80s have been largely overlooked, which makes them perfectly ripe for re-discovery. The former singer with the Pack made a habit of labelling his post-punk endeavours with cod-portentous names, graduating from Theatre of Hate, and the politically sharp "Do You Believe in the Westworld?", to Spear of Destiny, responsible for the still-electrifying "Liberator". L.A.'s Wall of Voodoo never quite lived up to their potential, but "Mexican Radio" remains a standout, mixing synth rock with a spattering of Spaghetti Western, and Modern English had far more up their sleeves than "I Melt With You", as "Life in the Gladhouse" confirms. Add the Lilac Time and the Photos to your list of '80s Discoveries, in Deep Cuts.

Sometimes, the odds seem to stack up against a band, no matter how promising they seem — and that applies to the Photos, who emerged as an off-shoot of punk band Satan's Rats at the beginning of the '80s, attracted comparison with Blondie (thanks to glamorous singer Wendy Wu), but had a scheduled appearance on Top of the Pops cancelled due to industrial action . . . then faded from view. Check out "Barbarellas" for a taste of what might have been. Fans of great pop curiosities will likely warm to Paul Young's soulful cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart", while the Lilac Time's "Return to Yesterday" will satisfy any wild cravings for alt-folkish harmony.

Sitting here at the start of the 2010's it seems like no decade owns the nostalgia airwaves as comprehensively as the '80s — stroll around any shop or supermarket, and it's a fair bet that you're going to hear something unshakably catchy by Duran Duran or Culture Club . . . but what about those outstanding '80s tracks that never seem to make it onto standard, mainstream retro-playlists — the brilliant songs that somehow got lost in the shuffle? Well, we've gathered a goodly bunch of them right here, to form this parallel universe of '80s songwriting excellence. Everything from the cultured, Eastern-leaning synth experimentalism of David Sylvian, to atmospheric alt-rock of the Blue Nile, the later-phase production finesse of Nik Kershaw, and the tongue-in-cheek endless highway pastiche of It's Immaterial.