System (Alkanoid Docking Station Mix) - The Gadgets

There are two bands which have recorded under the name The Gadgets.

1. The Gadgets are a german indie band.

2. The Gadgets are somewhat a mystery band to any official reference regarding their former key members - of which, Matt Johnson (The The) and Colin Lloyd Tucker (later to work with Kate Bush and Simon Turner) might bring this band finally for deserved attention.

The Gadgets operated from around the late 70s throughout the 80s, but their essential work remains that of the early stage; three crucial albums, each a masterpiece - 'Gadgetree' (1979) and 'Love, Curiosity, Freckles & Doubt' (1980) seem to play at specific, explicit electronic tuning based around simple ideas and dark matters, invoked by Tuckers phenomenal vocal range. 'The Blue Album' (1983) is the crown of it all, a brilliant satire, ultimate pop album for the Gadgets using far more real instruments remaining a unique study in what Bowie would simply kill for.

The line-up of The Gadgets was most of the time inconsistent - both Tucker and Johnson (besides the third original member John Hide) never contributed to any of the later releases - a weaker offering 'The Fruits of Ackledama' (1986) continues the group's charming pace (especially the opening number 'The Crazies') but Tucker's presence is obviously missing for the new vocalist tries hard in preserving the theatrical feel of the group's earlier work while at the same time 'Fruits' is a bit clumsy, pretentious dance-orientated record that has more to do with Dead Or Alive than the avant-garde.

However obscure they might seem, The Gadgets is a must for anyone interested in this side of The Residents - Plastic Head Records did release these in digital format, so their discography is way well-worth a possession. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.