You must be Crackers not to Love Xmas Synth Pop

My love for Dance/house, Techno & Synth Pop; i would believe started way back in the early 80's. Having grown a love for O.M.D, Depeche Mode and Erasure. 

A band that defined pop for me; Catchy hooks, beautiful melodies, songs that stick in your head. A band that were both excellent on record and stunning live; Maybe down to Andy Bell's flamboyant banter, costumes and dancing. 

Bell with a voice like a angel, Vince Clarke's Synth and Bell's/Clarke combined songwriting; a winning Pop Act.

One Xmas was especially memorable for me when they released Crackers International E.P : With it's two hit singles Knocking on your door and the Excellent Stop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbi0hTlY42 The hardest part and the beautiful She won't be home, a perfect alternative Xmas tune about those finding themselves all alone at the special time of year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_XumB0fezY

A E.p i still own on 12inc Vinyl (which i still enjoy )

Having gained a love for the sound of Vince Clarke i delved deeper and discovered Yazoo, a band which was a perfect move from Depeche Mode ( in between ) to Erasure. With the bellowing vocal delivery of Alison Moyet and her captivating stage presence, a fellow school friend of Clarke's and lads from D.M ,she was popular with the girls and scared of by the boys. I digress ...

Being a member of the old Britannia Music Club i took risks buying music and one i'm glad i did, was the Classic Synth pop album Upstairs at Eric's

 A strong set of song's which still sounds brilliantly today. One of the hit singles from the band in 1982 was Only You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yod7jc8U94Which was covered the year later by The Flying Pickets (which went to Number 1 )http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgDKtLPp46s& The Classic Don't Go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPeQGWL7fok

One of Yazoo's singles had a resurgence in the early 90's with a Remix of Situation (which i owned ) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWtxit2N44Q

Unfortunately the Duo split after their second album You and me both and left us with the Pop Tastic Nobody's Diaryhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh1C1VDlmmk

The Duo did reform for a short while in 2008 ( one tour i regret not seeing ). As you know Vince went on to have a successful career with Erasure and Moyet as Alf.

Clarke has never thought about rejoining Depeche Mode, though a special gig as the original line up; performing Speak & Spell in it's entirety would be on my wish list. He did recently join up with one Martin L Gore for their excellent Melodic Techno album Ssss calling themselves VCMG. I highly recommend it

Especially the Tune Spock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK3YH6Hu99o and he revisited Depeche Mode with his haunting rendition of Fly on the Windscreen with Ane Brun on vocal duties http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6U6Do0w4jk

Back to Erasure : They've just released a highly received new Xmas themed album Snow Globe

http://www.erasuresnowglobe.com/

One of the tunes i especially love on the festive themed album is Sleep Quietly and the Mix by quality Electro Soloist Maps http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df86mtOXFzU

Erasure are dreaming of a White Xmas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKOu0NFl8uI

Snow or no Snow i would like to wish them and everyone a Merry Xmas.