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
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
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