Tag: Closet 80S!

September 16, 2025

State Of The Art – Love Will Keep Us Together (Germany 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Founded in Cologne in 1986 by Frank Schmitz (guitar, vocals) and Stephan Koch (keyboards, vocals, production), German synth-pop outfit State Of The Art came together with a clear vision: to shape their years of school band and local music experiences into a polished, professional project. In 1987, Stephan’s brother Georg Koch joined on drums, completing the trio.

The band’s first recordings took place at the V.A.M.P. Studio in Cologne, where early demo tapes were put together. These demos quickly caught the attention of A&R managers in Hamburg, and the group’s songwriting quality earned them a deal with Phonogram (Mercury/Polygram Records).

Their second single, “Love Will Keep Us Together,” was released in 1988 across Germany, France, Austria, and Switzerland. Produced by pop producer Ulrich “James” Herter (best known for his work with Two of Us) alongside publisher Karin Wirthmann, the track showcased a glossy, melodic synth-pop sound that felt perfectly in step with the era.

With bright keyboards, crisp programming, and a heartfelt vocal performance, the single had all the makings of a hit. It even found success in the media: State Of The Art performed the song on several German television shows, including appearances on the iconic Formel Eins, and a promotional video was produced for the music program.

“Love Will Keep Us Together” resonated strongly on German radio, climbing into the WDR Schlagerrallye, where it ultimately landed at #15 on the annual chart. The band also earned recognition in the Goldene Europa competition, taking second place just behind fellow German pop group Pur.

While it didn’t break internationally, “Love Will Keep Us Together” stands today as a quintessential Closet 80s single: a polished, heartfelt slice of European synth-pop that deserved far more recognition than it received at the time. For collectors and lovers of hidden gems, it remains a rewarding discovery.

SIDE A:
Love Will Keep Us Together (Extended Version) 5:32
Written-By – Georg Koch, Stephan Koch, Timothy Touchton

On Deaf Ears 3:24
Written-By – Ken Taylor, Matthew Peevers, Stephan Koch

Love Will Keep Us Together (Single Version) 3:41
Written-By – Georg Koch, Stephan Koch, Timothy Touchton

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Mercury – 870 177-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Artwork By [Cover] – Spot WA, Köln
Producer – Ulrich Herter

NOTES:
Made in West Germany

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

September 15, 2025

State Of The Art – Love Remains A Rebel (Germany 12″) (1987)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

Here’s another gem pulled from the Closet 80s — the 1987 debut single “Love Remains A Rebel” by German synth-pop group State Of The Art.

Released on both 7-inch and 12-inch formats, “Love Remains A Rebel” arrived at a time when electronic pop was branching in many directions. The song carries that unmistakable late–’80s European sound: polished synth layers, dramatic vocals, and a driving programmed beat that made it an instant candidate for club play. Fans of Alphaville, Camouflage, and Cetu Javu will feel right at home here, though State Of The Art bring their own mix of cool detachment and melodic urgency.

The extended 12-inch version really lets the track breathe — the sequencers pulse, the synth lines shimmer, and the chorus grows more insistent with each repeat. While the single didn’t make much commercial noise on release, it has since become a sought-after find for collectors of obscure synth and minimal wave. Like so many Closet 80s tracks, it’s one of those songs that might have slipped past you back in the day, only to hit hard once rediscovered decades later.

What makes “Love Remains A Rebel” stand out is its balance of mood and movement — it’s brooding enough for the headphones but still danceable for the floor. A perfect example of the kind of overlooked 12″ that fueled the underground clubs of the era.

Do you remember this one from its original release, or is it a fresh discovery from the Closet?

SIDE A:
Love Remains A Rebel (Extended Mix) 5:04

SIDE B:
Fighting For Spaces 3:46
Love Remains A Rebel (7″ Version) 4:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polygram – 888 490-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1987
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Photography By – Thomas Reutter
Producer – Ulrich Herter

NOTES:
Made In West Germany

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

September 12, 2025

State Of The Art – Shout And Run (Germany 12″) (1988)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In the late 1980s, Germany’s music scene had already become a vibrant melting pot of synths, glossy production, and sometimes melancholic vocals. Bands like State Of The Art may not have become household names globally, but within the synth-pop / new wave circuit, they crafted songs that captured both the energy and the restlessness of that time. One standout among their catalog is “Shout And Run,” released around 1988/1989.

Background: Who are State Of The Art

State Of The Art formed in the mid-1980s in Cologne. The core members included Stephan Koch (keyboard, vocals, production), Frank Schmitz (guitar, vocals), and Georg Koch (drums, programming).

They released a handful of singles: “Love Remains A Rebel” (1987), “Love Will Keep Us Together” (1988), and then “Shout And Run” toward the tail end of their activity before their disbandment/reformation under a new name (“Boys On Parade”).

The Song: Atmosphere, Themes, and Style

“Shout And Run” is built on the classic synth-pop foundation: synthesizers, upbeat drum machines, catchy melodies, and a blend of urgency and gloss that was characteristic of late ’80s pop in Germany (and elsewhere). The title alone suggests motion, tension, desire to break free (“run”) paired with a kind of confrontation or exclamation (“shout”).

Though full lyrics aren’t widely circulated, the song’s drift seems to contrast restlessness with a need for expression. The “shout” is a metaphor for being heard; the “run” implies escape or distancing. There’s something energetic—maybe even defiant—in that combination.

Chart Reception and Legacy

Though State Of The Art never released a full LP before their first disbandment, their singles had modest success in radio charts. “Shout And Run” came after “Love Remains A Rebel” and “Love Will Keep Us Together.” It was their third single and helped cement their place in the German synth/pop / radio music ecosystem of the time.

“Shout And Run” charted (Germany, radio) around #20 in early 1989.

Though the band would eventually change form (later becoming Boys On Parade) and evolve, songs like “Shout And Run” remain interesting touchpoints—they hint at what could have been had the band had more exposure, or had the LP followed through.

Why “Shout And Run” Matters

It encapsulates the tension of the era: between moving forward and being heard, between the synthetic and the human.
It shows how even bands without massive international fame contributed depth to the synth-pop movement.
For listeners today, it offers nostalgia but also relevance: themes of escape, expression vs suppression, urgency — those still resonate.

If you’re exploring the history of synth-pop, particularly in Germany, “Shout And Run” is one of those gems that’s worth rediscovery. It may not have topped global charts, but it’s part of the tapestry of that musical moment: electronic textures, emotional pulses, and a voice that wants to break through.

SIDE A:
Shout And Run (Pattern Event Mix) 5:34

SIDE B:
Shout And Run (Extended Mix) 5:00

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: EMI Electrola – 1C 060-1 47417 6
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Maxi-Single
Country: Germany
Released: 1988
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Lyrics By – Stephan Koch
Music By – Henry Parlan, Stephan Koch, Ulrich Herter
Producer – Ulrich Herter

NOTES:
State Of The Art are: Frank Schmitz, Georg Koch, Stephan Koch
Made in EEC

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for Burning The Ground

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

August 29, 2025

Charlie Sexton – Impressed (Canada 12″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1985, 16-year-old Texas guitar prodigy Charlie Sexton released his debut album Pictures for Pleasure. Fresh out of the Austin music scene, Sexton had already built a reputation as a musician well beyond his years.

Following the success of his debut single “Beat’s So Lonely,” which reached #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an MTV staple, MCA Records issued “Impressed” as the album’s second single. While the track carried the same glossy production and atmospheric charm, “Impressed” unfortunately failed to chart.

Produced by Keith Forsey (Billy Idol, The Breakfast Club soundtrack), “Impressed” leans heavily into the mid-80s new wave/post-punk hybrid sound. With moody guitars, layered synth textures, and Sexton’s deep, mature-sounding vocal delivery, the song seemed tailor-made for radio and MTV rotation. The 12″ single featured extended and dance-oriented versions that gave the track a club-ready edge, contrasting the darker rock tones of the LP.

**As a bonus track, I have also included the 7″ Remix, which I transferred from the US promo 7″ single.

SIDE A:
Impressed (Mixed Impressions) (Extended Dance Remix) 6:19
Engineer [Remix] – Dave Concors
Remix – Arthur Barrow

SIDE B:
Impressed (Wanna Bet Dub) 7:26
Engineer [Remix] – Steve Parker (2)
Remix – Charlie Sexton, Steve Lillywhite

BONUS TRACK:
Impressed (7″ Remix) 3:45
Remix – Charlie Sexton, Michael Frondelli, Steve Lillywhite

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: MCA Records – MCA-23622
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM, Single
Country: Canada
Released: 1986
Genre: Electronic. Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Synth-pop

CREDITS:

Producer – Keith Forsey
Written-By – R. Wilson*, S. Krikorian*

NOTES:
Original version appears on the Charlie Sexton album “Pictures For Pleasure”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for burningtheground.net

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.