Coldwave/Synth charts

Review: Few albums have reshaped the landscape of electronic music quite like Autobahn. Originally released in 1974, Kraftwerk's groundbreaking fusion of synthesisers, sequencers and minimalist structure redefined what pop music could be. The title track, stretching over 22 minutes, was an ambitious journey through hypnotic rhythms, vocoder-treated vocals and shimmering electronic textures, concentrating on the feel of a never-ending highway ride. This anniversary edition brings a fresh dimension to the experience. Revisiting the original 16-track master tapes, Ralf Hutter and engineer Fritz Hilpert have crafted a Dolby Atmos Mix that expands the album's depth and spatiality like never before. This Blu-ray includes a 5.1 mix, a high-resolution stereo version and two newly edited 2024 single versions, plus a video of the 'Autobahn' edit featuring Kraftwerk's signature visual aesthetic. Packaged in a region-free Blu-ray with a 12-page booklet and an SDE-exclusive slipcase, this edition ensures that Autobahn can be experienced in a format worthy of its legacy.

Review: You can always count on Depeche Mode to do things differently. Never content to play it safe despite their position as a global superstars, as the 80s turned into the 90s they collaborated with celebrated filmmaker Anton Corbijn on the music videos from their albums Music For The Masses and Violator. The first set were gathered together at Strange in 1988, with the follow-up released as Strange Too in 1990. In between the music videos for megahits like ‘Personal Jesus’ and ‘Enjoy The Silence’ were additional vignettes and incidentals, all filmed by Corbijn on his trusty Super 8, and the end results have become synonymous with the Mode’s visual aesthetic. Now both films have been gathered together in one handy Blu Ray package, digitally remastered without losing that all-important grainy finish.

Review: When Depeche Mode teamed up with Anton Corbijn to make some music videos, few could have predicted the end results. If you ever thought there’s an artful consistency to the Mode’s music videos from the late 80s and early 90s, it’s because Corbijn filmed them all on a shoestring budget on his trusty Super 8 camera. The resulting pieces were strung together as vignettes forming a larger cinematic experience which was released in two instalments - Strange and Strange Too. Originally released on VHS and Laserdisc, the films have finally been bundled together, digitally restored and presented in this DVD box set with bonus material.