Various Artists - Modern Dance

Modern Dance is a seminal 1981 UK synth-pop compilation album released by K-tel that masterfully captures the peak of the New Romantic and post-punk movements. Featuring 18 defining tracks from iconic electronic pioneers like Depeche Mode, The Human League, and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, this highly collectible release serves as a vital audio time capsule documenting the transition of underground electronic music into mainstream pop culture.

Released by K-tel in December 1981, Modern Dance stands out as a brilliantly curated time capsule that perfectly captures the peak of the UK New Romantic, synth-pop, and post-punk landscape. While television-advertised compilation albums of this era were frequently dismissed as cheap, commercial cash-ins, this 18-track collection defies the stereotype. Instead of relying on generic chart-toppers, it leans heavily on the bleeding-edge catalog of Virgin Records to deliver an authentic taste of London and Sheffield's underground nightlife.

The tracklist reads like a blueprint for the decade's musical evolution, balancing massive radio singles with atmospheric art-pop gems. High-energy anthems like Depeche Mode's "New Life" and The Human League's "Love Action" showcase the era's bright, populist synth melodies. However, the album truly earns its legendary status by incorporating the darker, more angular textures of the movement, beautifully highlighted by the gothic melancholy of The Cure's "Charlotte Sometimes" and the avant-garde, polyrhythmic percussion of Japan's "Visions of China".

What makes Modern Dance so uniquely satisfying is its focus on the transition from traditional rock instruments to completely electronic soundscapes. Listeners are treated to the futuristic, minimalist synth-pop of John Foxx's "Europe After the Rain" right alongside the quirky, driving Kraftwerk-esque rhythms of Landscape's "Einstein a Go-Go". Even the lesser-known inclusions, such as the bass-heavy "A World Without Love" by The News, blend seamlessly into the album's sophisticated, high-art dancefloor aesthetic.

Ultimately, this compilation succeeded because it treated the emerging synth wave as a serious, unified artistic movement rather than a fleeting pop trend. Over forty years after its release, it remains a highly sought-after vinyl pressing for electronic music purists and collectors. For anyone looking to understand the precise moment that the UK underground permanently rewired global pop music, Modern Dance remains the definitive sonic roadmap.

Ripped to MP3

Side A

A1. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Joan Of Arc

A2. Japan – Quiet Life

A3. The Human League – Love Action (I Believe In Love)

A4. Heaven 17 – Penthouse And Pavement

A5. Depeche Mode – New Life

A6. Simple Minds – Sweat In Bullet

A7. John Foxx – Europe After The Rain

A8. The Cure – Charlotte Sometimes

A9. Gary Numan – She's Got Claws

Side B

B1. Visage – Fade To Grey

B2. Landscape – Einstein A Go Go

B3. Fashion – Move On

B4. Japan – Visions Of China

B5. The News – A World Without Love

B6. Simple Minds – Love Song

B7. Heaven 17 – Play To Win

B8. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark – Enola Gay

B9. The Human League – Open Your Heart