synth-pop

Beat Ratio is a London based solo artist producing focused electro-pop tunes with an old school approach. Working exclusively on cassette, from the initial ideas to the final masters, he uses the limitations imposed by tape as an incentive for creativity and a way to escape the perfectionism of music software. Funky beats, synth-pop and traditional songwriting are all processed through a DIY blender in an attempt to produce music with which to recapture a time, not long ago, when "less was more".

The Knife is an electronic duo from Stockholm, Sweden formed in 1999. The band consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson (formerly of Honey is Cool, now Fever Ray) and Olof Dreijer - who also run their own record company, Rabid Records. The group rarely makes public appearances, most of their promotional photos feature the members wearing masks, and formerly refused to perform live concerts. However the group has showed themselves in public wearing masks formed as bird's beaks, similar to those used by medieval doctors.

Read more about The Knife on Last.fm.

Komputer is the project of two London-based synth-meisters: Simon Leonard and David Baker, releasing on Mute Records. The duo have been writing, mixing and producing together for over 25 years, formerly in I Start Counting & Fortran 5. Their new album is Synthetik. Their sound is rigorously electronic and their tracks deal with such diverse subjects as: Russian cosmonauts, rubbish compactors and mobile phone ringtones. Musical antecedents and influences include Kraftwerk, Giorgio Moroder, Syd Barrett and Brian Eno.

Shakespear's Sister were pop/rock duo consisting of former Bananarama member Siobhan Fahey and (from 1989 - 1996) singer/songwriter/guitarist Marcella Detroit (real name Marcy Levy). Detroit had previously performed with Eric Clapton, released a solo album in 1982, and has since released more solo material as well as a blues album with the Marcy Levy Band. Fahey was born in Dublin, Ireland, and Detroit was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA, hence her stage name.