Various Artists - Terpsichore (Silly Not To)

Terpsichore (Silly Not To) is a definitive 1981 post-punk and synth-pop compilation album released by EMI Records. Named after the Greek muse of dance, the record perfectly captured a pivotal moment in the UK and European underground music scenes, documenting the transition from raw post-punk into electronic, New Wave, and "futurist" club music. The LP is highly prized by vinyl collectors today because it serves as a time capsule for the early-1980s subculture, featuring pioneering solo work from electronic icons like Thomas Dolby alongside essential club hits from Gina X Performance and Classix Nouveaux.

Beyond its mainstream tracks, the compilation is historically significant for its curation of rare, exclusive, and obscure musical projects. It includes hard-to-find tracks like Naked Lunch's "Horror Shock Horror," recorded at Abbey Road Studios, and "Friend For A Day" by M.A.O., a rare synth-pop side project by Mik Sweeney of Classix Nouveaux. By blending British avant-garde synth music with international sounds from artists like Japan's Sandii and Germany's Die Fehlfarben, the album provides a comprehensive, high-energy overview of the experimental dance movement that shaped the decade's pop landscape.

Released by EMI Records in August 1981, Terpsichore (Silly Not To) stands as an essential, vibrant time capsule of the European underground music scene at a crucial crossroads. Named after the Greek muse of dance, this compilation perfectly documents the exact moment post-punk’s jagged angst dissolved into the sleek, neon-lit landscapes of New Wave, synth-pop, and "futurist" club music. Instead of relying solely on established radio hits, the album captures the raw, kinetic energy of a subculture trading guitars for synthesizers and drum machines, offering a cohesive sonic narrative of a generation rewriting the rules of dance music.

The album’s greatest strength lies in its curation, balancing seminal underground club anthems with rare, exclusive tracks that make it a holy grail for vinyl collectors today. Iconic tracks like Gina X Performance’s euro-disco masterpiece "No G.D.M." and Classix Nouveaux’s driving debut single "The Robots Dance" anchor the record in the sweaty, stylish dancefloors of the era. Meanwhile, early solo contributions from pioneers like Thomas Dolby with "Urges" showcase the burgeoning commercial potential of a genre that would soon dominate global airwaves, proving that the compilation had its finger firmly on the pulse of the future.

Beyond the hits, Terpsichore shines a much-needed spotlight on obscure, avant-garde side projects that otherwise might have been lost to time. Listeners are treated to Naked Lunch’s eerie, driving "Horror Shock Horror," which was recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, and M.A.O.’s elusive synth track "Friend For A Day," a rare creative outlet for Mik Sweeney outside of his main work with Classix Nouveaux. These deep cuts provide an invaluable look into the frantic experimentation occurring behind the scenes, where artists were eagerly testing the limits of new electronic instrumentation.

Ultimately, Terpsichore (Silly Not To) succeeds because of its broad international scope, effortlessly bridging British art-school electronic sounds with global perspectives. From the Japanese-influenced synth styling of Sandii and Airport + Dean to the sharp German post-punk of Die Fehlfarben's "Militürk," the album proves that the electronic revolution was a connected, borderless movement. It remains a thrilling, high-energy compilation that not only defined the transitionary spirit of 1981 but continues to serve as an educational and deeply enjoyable listen for any fan of early electronic music.

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Side A

1. Sandii – Hey Rock A La La

2. M.A.O. – Friend For A Day (An exclusive synth track from Mik Sweeney's side project apart from Classix Nouveaux)

3. Shock – R.E.R.B. (A classic electro-glam track featuring Barbie Wilde and Carole Caplin)

4. Airport + Dean – Blonde Darlings (A rare, Japan-influenced track exclusive to this LP)

5. Die Fehlfarben – Militürk

6. Sapho – Respect

Side B

1. Logic System – Talk Back

2. Katmandu – I Can Make The Future

3. Thomas Dolby – Urges (Early solo work from the iconic synth pioneer)

4. Naked Lunch – Horror Shock Horror (An early track recorded at Abbey Road Studios by the pioneering UK synthpunks)

5. Gina X Performance – No G.D.M. (A seminal euro-disco/synth-pop club hit)

6. Classix Nouveaux – The Robots Dance (The band's catchy, futurist debut single)