Synth Spotting with Visage in 2013

Visage - New Romantics, The Blitz Club and the New Album HEARTS AND KNIVES. EPK from March 2013

Published on Apr 3, 2013 therealvisage·5 videos

Additional videos below.

"A Video introduction to Visage, The Blitz Club (the cauldron of 1980s style and fashion) and the new Visage album and line up. More info on www.visage.cc

Founding fathers of the New Romantics and pioneers of the 80s sound Visage, return with a new album "Hearts And Knives" May 2013. Visage began in 1978 when Steve Strange and Blitz Club partner-in-crime Rusty Egan joined forces with Midge Ure to create a futuristic, synthesizer-led group where style and fashion were matched by experimental but accessible music. The group was soon Magazine and Billy Currie. They recorded their first single Tar with Martin Rushent at his Genetic Studio in 1978 (shortly to become the birthplace of the Human League Dare album). Their breakthrough track "Fade To Grey" became a European hit and reached number 1 in 8 countries in 1980. As the public face of the band Steve Strange shot to stardom throughout Europe and beyond.

Steve Strange has been through his own share of highs and lows in the past 29 years. His emergence as a fashion and style icon of the 80s and beyond is one of the many highs. Steve had always believed that Visage had not yet reached its endpoint. Slowly the circumstances and pieces started falling into place to enable a new album to come to fruition. Firstly Steve reconnected with Steve Barnacle (a Visage band member from the 1984 Visage album "Beatboy") and began writing songs once more. This was augmented when ex Ultravox guitarist Robin Simon joined into the equation bringing not only a large slice of shared musical DNA (that "Visage sound") to the project but also his own distinctive style and ethereal musicianship. Lauren Duvall joined adding not only her sultry vocal ability but also a slice of the classic Visage glamour. Secondly the environment and interest in 80's fashion, style and music continues on unabated. The phone continues to ring for shows, television, news and exhibitions.

More info on www.visage.cc"

Additional videos: Two from the early days of Visage and the new single below. Fade To Grey was one of the first tracks that sparked my love for synths.

Visage - Fade To Grey

Published on Mar 7, 2013 therealvisage·5 videos

Original music video for the Visage hit "Fade To Grey"

Visage - Visage

Published on Mar 7, 2013 therealvisage·5 videos

"Original video for Visage, by the band Visage."

And the first new track:

Visage - Shameless Fashion

Published on Apr 9, 2013 therealvisage·5 videos

The Synth Pistols on YouTube

Ultravox was one of my favorite bands growing up in the 80s. They are actually one of the bands that inspired me into getting a synth. Why is the title of the post The Synth Pistols? Well, Malcolm McLaren originally asked lead singer Midge Ure (Ultravox) to front The Sex Pistols, but he turned it down. John Lydon stepped in and the rest is history. Makes you wonder how things could have turned out. It's also fascinating to think Malcom McLaren was responsible for Buffalo Gals. Back then these genres of music never seemed to mix.

Here's a video of Rich Kids, Midge Ure's band prior to Ultravox featuring Glen Matlock of the Sex Pistols. No synths, just some context.

Now for some "live" synth goodness:

Sleepwalk (some dry humping synth action by Billy Currie)
Vienna (I think Midge might have been the only straight man to dress like that)

And of course some Electroclash before Electroclash - Fade to Grey by Visage. Move over Fischerspooner, Visage "taught the killing game first." Visage was another side project of Midge's along with Steve Strange on vocals (he's the guy in the video). Midge didn't sing much in Visage although you can hear him in the background on some tracks, particularly at the end of "In the Year 2525." Another bit of trivia: Billy Currie of Ultravox (THE synth player of Ultravox) actually played with Gary Numan during the transition from John Foxx to Midge Ure fronting Ultravox. Billy is actually in the video for Numan's Cars. You can find more history on Ultravox here.

Title link takes you to an Ultravox search on YouTube.

Udpate via Fred in the comments:

"Never mind the Midge Ure Ultravox, go for the real thing - the John Foxx Ultravox. 'Ha Ha Ha' (their 2nd album, 1977) is very 70's London punk with lots of wild ARP Odessy and great guitar playing by Sevie Shears who afterwards disappeared from history. 'Systems of Romance' (3rd album, 1978) is one of those records that not very many people bought but everyone who did started a band - very influential to later cyber punk and electro-industrial artists. Recorded by Conny Plank at his studio. This is rock music by killer robots - cold, hard and relentless. The first three songs are like the shock wave from an atomic bomb. One of my favorite records ever. The harsh futuristic vibe coming off this record is unsurpassed to this day (I'm still searching) and seems more prophetic than ever. John Foxxs' first album 'Metamatic' (1980) is also great and highly recomended to Kraftwerk Fans. I used to wander around Vancouver with these albums blasting out of my Toshiba ghetto blaster back in the day."

I never got around to fully checking out John Foxx's Ultravox. I just check Yahoo! Unlimited but they don't have it yet. However the do have John Foxx's Dislocated released just last year in 2005. I'm listening to it as I type this and... it's really friggin good. Hope he does more like this soon.

BTW, title link takes you to all Ultravox on YouTube including John Foxx.

VISAGE/STEVE STRANGE - DAMNED DON'T CRY

YouTube via DamnedDontCry.

Anyone know the synths used in this one?

"Awesome song and video from the lovely Steve Strange and Visage"
Visage on MATRIXSYNTH TRAINS on MATRIXYSNTH

Update: Re-Uploaded on Jul 20, 2006 wigs7 -

"Sorry not the greatest of quality but noticed it wasn't out there for people to see . Although everyone likes fade to gray i actually prefer this track . Enjoy"

CR-78 Essential 80s Synthpop part 2 - Harlem Nights

YouTube via harlemnightsmusic | August 07, 2010

"Blondie, Visage, Roxy Music, John Foxx... A lot of fun again recreating some fav classic new wave sounds, that were based on the Roland CR-78 drummachine. See part 1 for others

All again recreated by ear. None of the original tracks were sampled. Filmed during recording.

Gear used:
- Korg Electribe SX (CR 78 sounds, Linndrum additional sounds)
- Korg Minikorg 700S (Visage, John Foxx)
- Roland Juno 60 (most pads, strings)
- Roland Juno 106 (most basses)
- Crumar Performer (Roxy Music strings)
- Boss GX-700 and SE50 (fx)

Tracklist:
* Blondie - Heart of Glass
* Visage - Fade to Grey
* Roxy Music - Same Old Scene
* Roxy Music - Dance Away
* Buggles - I am a Camera
* John Foxx - Plaza
* John Foxx - Underpass
* Blondie - Atomic"

Recreating Visage's 1980 hit Fade To Grey using a Moog One Synthesizer

video upload by Matt Culpin

"In this video I've recreated Visage's 1980 hit Fade To Grey using a Moog One #visage #moog #moogone #synthesizer #remake #trending #ableton #abletonpush #abletonlive #synthpop"

00:00 - Introduction
00:42 - Background
01:27 - The sounds
03:09 - The track

How to synthesise the sounds of Visage: Fade To Grey

video upload by Floyd Steinberg

"In this video, I'm creating the sounds used in Visage's 1980 hit "Fade To Grey", so you can play that song on your synth for your friends at campfires or so. ;-)

Table of contents:

00:00 demo
00:48 a new series!
01:43 some subtractive synth basics
04:51 bass
05:51 organ (sound at the beginning of the song)
07:21 main pad sound / string sound
11:01 lead sound
13:46 "piano" sound
15:41 assembling the song: chords, bass, lead, piano, drums
18:27 demo 2
18:57 conclusion"

Support: https://www.paypal.me/alexselck

Me playing Visage "Fade to Grey"

Uploaded on Mar 5, 2008 DX5

"# Some mistakes specially with the DX7. It was just a test.
Above: Roland JX8P
Mid: Roland D10
Below: Yamaha DX7 II FD
# Tags Visage Fade to Grey Roland D10 JX8P JX-8P Yamaha DX7"

Billy Currie of Ultravox's ARP Odyssey Sells for £8,500.00

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"This is the one Billy bought in 1977. He used it back in 2012 on the Ultravox "Brilliant" album so it is in good working order.
He used it on all the Ultravox gigs and recordings and the Visage recordings. He used his softer signature sound on Visage "Fade To Grey" and Ultravox "Vienna".
He also used this ARP while working with Tubeway Army/Gary Numan. Live and the recordings "Living Ornaments 79 ". Most notably using his strong, emotional signature sound for the " On Broadway " solo. It was used on the "Top of the Pops" theme when he played on Phil Lynotts solo album. This time with the ARP sequencer as well. A remixed instrumental version of the song " Yellow Pearl ".
This instrument has been heard very much! It is a part of music's Synthesiser History
It's the MK 2 version. The raunchy version!

Ultravox solos include :-

Man Who Dies Every Day
Artificial Life
Slow Motion
Quiet Man
Sleepwalk
The Thin Wall
Hymn
When the Scream Subsides"

CLICK FOR MORE »

Synth Talk with Richard Burgess of Landscape

LANDSCAPE: 'European Man'

Uploaded on Jan 19, 2008
Landscape's 'European Man', featuring Barbie Wilde.

Pea Hicks who runs Optigan.com and the MC-8 blog, has a great post up on Richard Burgess and the use of the Roland MC-8 Micro-Composer.  The following are a couple of excerpts and videos for reference.  Along with synth talk there are some interesting historical bits on the time including the origin of the New Romantic label and scene.  Richard Burgess worked with Rusty Egan who in turn was in Visage, a band consisting of him Billy Currie and Midge Ure of Ultravox, John McGeoch of Magazine, Siouxsie &  PIL (Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols), and others.  Lot's of cross collaboration at the time.  If interested you can start with Visage on wikipedia and click through the names.  The post-punk New Romantic followed by New Wave movement brought synthesis to many.  In Pea Hicks' interview you'll find a great audio snip with some geeky synth talk on setting values for the MC-8 - this is in an actual track.

"Pea: I’m sure to you it probably seems like a head-scratcher why anyone in this day and age would voluntarily subject himself to the hassles of dealing with ancient sync dilemmas, but for me that’s part of the fun and also it’s a way of working that inevitably produces some idiosyncratic results that you wouldn’t get by doing things the “easy way.” I’m definitely after that metronomic Human League type groove.

Richard: I think the machine definitely influences the result so I don’t see it as odd to want to use the MC8. I have thought about it myself.The same thing applies to analogue sequencers. Like I said, we synched the MC8 to the CR78 by programming a square wave to come out of the mulitplex outputs and then we adjusted the level through a console until it ran the CR78. Most of those old drum machines run on simple square waves with no flags. Getting them to run in the same time is less of a problem than getting them to start at the right time. I used the MC8 in preference to later machines because of the timing. I found early Cubase to be shaky (it’s fine now) and SMPTE Track from Hybrid Arts was very sensitive to processor load. I always liked the timing of the Linn 9000 and I still have mine. I don’t know about the DMX but the 808 should lock tight – it’s only one machine later than the CR78 if I recall correctly."

And on Shock's Angel Face:

"Richard: Oh yes, that was all me. Rusty Egan brought the group and the song and I programmed everything in my home studio and recorded it at Mayfair Studios in South Moulton St. with John Hudson engineering. It was the System 100Ms with the 10x gate modification on the bass line for sure. I did all their recordings and I wrote the rest of the songs with various members and Rusty."

Shock - ANGEL FACE - Shock

FADE TO GREY VISAGE COVER SYNTH AND PIANO

Published on Mar 21, 2017 LOOK MUM NO COMPUTER

"This is nearly 2 years old! just saw it on my unlised folder in youtube. so here we go!
FADE TO GREY VISAGE

Think i taped the drum pads to my shoes. yeah pretty basic back then haha."

KORG MS20 & Yamaha DD-10 mini drum synth.

Fade to grey-Visage and Gazdatronik

YouTube via Gazdatronik

"I play Visage's Fade to grey somehow. Micromoog on Bass, Korg DW-8000 on strings, Oberhiem matrix 6 on the high part, and Emulator SP-12 on drums. I'll clean up the production and re-record it and put it up at my other site"

Visage Twist with the Roland XP50 and JP-08

Published on Jul 28, 2019 JMPSynth

"Loosely based on a favourite classic; Fade to Grey by Midge Ure/Visage, a track recorded using mainly the Roland XP50 and JP-08 synths."

Xeros Sorex - ad antipodes & Visage Fade to Grey Remix

More studio pics via Xeros Sorex on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge. Two tracks below.

ad antipodes by ХеЯоSоReX
"MC 505 + Animoog on iPad" via Xeros Sorex on The MATRIXSYNTH Lounge "Animoog for the bassline, rest of sounds are from the MC 505. Groovebox is master, iPad slave via iRIG midi interface."

Visage - fade to grey (xrs acid mix) by ХеЯоSоReX
"remixed with TR 505, microKORG & x0xbox and MC 909 pad line"

Visage Fade To Grey ~ Vintage Synthesizer Recreation ~ RetroSound

video upload by RetroSound

"(c)2007-24 by RetroSound
supported by UVI: http://bit.ly/retrosound-uvi

❤️ Support #RetroSound​ channel: https://retrosound.creator-spring.com

One of my favorite tracks from the early 80s.
Fade To Grey by Visage (1981)
The composition is written by Billy Currie and Chris Payne during the sound checks for Gary Numan's Pleasure Principle Tour in 1979

featured: Moog Minimoog, the PPG wave 2.2 and the ARP Quadra

This cover song series contains my own recreations of my favourite songs from the last 50 years. The original music from which I take inspiration belong to their respective owners. I recreate tracks only for personal passion and to pay homage to these tracks.
My intention is not to create covers that sound exactly like the original (if you want to hear identical sounds, please listen the original). It's more of an inspiration with my sounds from the old synthesizers from the past and of course the great appreciation for the original performers and producers."

United Plugins Introduces JMG Sound Retronaut - LoFi Nostalgia Machine Multi-effect Plug-in

video upload by United Plugins

Press release follows:

United Plugins puts past into present with JMG Sound Retronaut, realised as LoFi Nostalgia Machine multi-effect plug-in

“I hate to overuse superlatives, but, it has to be said, within a minute of trying out the amazing features of the Retronaut plug-in, I was astounded. Its versatility will work across all manner of instruments, from guitars to drums; I even tried some of the effects on a piano piece, and the results were extraordinary. This is going to be a great asset for film and media compositions, as well as my commercial recordings.”

- Chris Payne, orchestral composer for film and television/synthpop pioneer (co-writer of Visage's 1981 hit single ‘Fade to Grey’/former Gary Numan backing band member), 2023

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC: independent development teams federation United Plugins is proud to announce availability of Retronaut from founding partner JMG Sound — swinging back into action and putting the (analogue) past into the (DAW-driven) present as a so-called LoFi Nostalgia Machine multi-effect plug-in, perfectly capturing the vibe of old analogue gear by mixing bucket brigade chips, cassette tapes, VCFs (Voltage-Controlled Filters), vintage choruses, vinyl records, and more to transport its users back in time to explore their magical (musical) memories — as of February 15...

Explore the past
History has it that mankind has not only travelled the world and the ‘Seven Seas’ but beyond that to take one giant leap to touch down on the Moon, meaning the sky is not the limit. Steps still need to be taken to literally leave future footprints further away from the natural satellite of Earth, yet reality reasons that humanity cannot physically step back in time to explore the past in person, however, rather relying on history to tell its story. Saying that, Retronaut, JMG Sound’s so-called LoFi Nostalgia Machine, musically transports those interested in exploring their magical (musical) memories from where they originated; after all, music has a miraculous ability to transport anyone back in time. Therefore, seatbelts should be securely fastened in readiness for an ‘analogue’ expedition through history!

LoFi Nostalgia Machine
Make sure, then, that those seatbelts are securely fastened, for an ‘analogue’ expedition through history awaits as Retronaut is assuredly announced as a multi-voice vibrato and chorus plug-in, pulsating with lo-fi effects. Indeed, it is inspired by old analogue gear with which wisened ears welcoming warmth will already be familiar — think bucket brigade chips, cassette tapes, VCFs, vintage choruses, and vinyl records... Retronaut revisits that nostalgic musical magic of the past, putting it into the (DAW-driven) present with multiple ways to age and DEGRADE the signal being processed, thanks to controls for FLUTTER (adds random fluctuations to the modulation shape, simulating tape flutter); DUST (adds noise to the modulation shape); FAIL (adds random glitches of pitch and level drops to simulate old failing gear); WARP (adds pitch drift and a little tremolo at half-rate to all the VOICES globally); DIRT (controls the amount of tape-style saturation); FEED (controls the amount of cross-feedback by taking the outputs of the VOICES and feeding them into each other); and MONO (switches the signal to mono, simulating old gear with only one speaker, such as radios).

DIVERGE, MOD, MIX, and more
Meanwhile, it is possible to offset the multi-voice engine — enabling users to MIX from a single vibrato voice up to 4 VOICES, resulting in a rich chorus — in various ways to create organic and evolving movements via the DIVERGE section: SPREAD (offsets the LFO phase in the left and right channels); LAG (introduces a time delay for each voice); PHASE (offsets the LFO phase for each voice); V2 SCALE (offsets the voice 2 modulation rate from the main modulation rate); V3 SCALE (offsets the voice 3 modulation rate from the main modulation rate); V4 SCALE (offsets the voice 4 modulation rate from the main modulation rate); and RESYNC (resets the LFO phases). But beating at the musical heart of Retronaut is its MOD (modulation) section with HP MOD (controls the modulation depth of the virtual analogue high-pass filter in both positive and negative polarity) and LP MOD (controls the modulation depth of the virtual analogue low-pass filter in both positive and negative polarity); dialling down the modulation depth for the vibrato effect with the associated VIBE control and then using other effects encourages that warm, woolly, and compressed tape sound. Shape the tone with the VCF section — anchored around those virtual analogue high-pass and low-pass filters, switchable between 2 (12dB per octave) and 4 (24dB per octave) POLE slopes, with RESO (resonance) control — and MIX to perfection. Possibilities are endless, almost: add lo-fi to drums, rich chorus to synths, and lush reverb to anything... ask orchestral composer for film and television/synthpop pioneer Chris Payne (Visage, Gary Numan), who was well versed in working with original analogue gear — of the kind that inspired Retronaut — on a number of historic hit records. “I particularly love the DEGRADE section, which can add a huge amount of expression to any sound you use,” he enthuses, ending on an equally high note: “I’ll certainly be building up a huge library of sounds using Retronaut over the coming months, and cannot wait to get started with it on my forthcoming projects.”

Key features:
Captures the vibe of old analogue gear, mixing bucket brigade chips, cassette tapes, vintage choruses, and more in one powerful multi- effect plug-in
Smoothly mix from a single vibrato voice up to four, resulting in a rich chorus
Add that nostalgic lo-fi (musical) magic with the DEGRADE section — age sound from gentle dust and warmth to old, broken gear
Control each voice independently with the DIVERGE section — offset them in various ways to create organic and evolving movements

JMG Sound’s Retronaut is available to purchase for a time-limited introductory promo price of only €24.00 EUR until March 19, 2023 — rising thereafter to its regular price of €89.00 EUR — as an AAX-, AU-, VST-, and VST3-compatible plug-in (using internal 64-bit audio processing capable of handling any sample rate) directly from its dedicated webpage (https://unitedplugins.com/Retronaut/), where a 15-day, fully-functional trial version for macOS 10.10 and newer and Windows 8/10/11 can also be downloaded for free.

Note that no iLok, dongle, or internet access is required for Retronaut activation. (All United Plugins software uses license files for activation and owners can freely use purchased software — with free-for-life updates — on all their computers, as long as they are the user.)

Playing Synthpop Songs Live (Streaming Edited Highlights)

video upload by DX5

"Edited highlights from the unplanned (no preparation at all) live streaming broadcasted on December 27, 2021 with me playing some synthpop songs.
00:00 Trust (edit) - The Cure.
04:45 Just Like Heaven - The Cure.
08:25 Waving.
08:28 Why Can't I Be You - The Cure.
11:39 My Secret Garden + Oberkorn intro (Hammersmith vers) - Depeche Mode.
19:06 Policy Of Truth - Depeche Mode.
25:24 Enjoy The Silence (+ intro while loading backtrack's PT session) - Depeche Mode.
32:33 Home - Depeche Mode.
38:21 Shake the Disease - Depeche Mode.
43:24 It's My Life - Talk Talk.
47:40 Save a Prayer - Duran Duran.
53:13 Fade To Grey - Visage.
57:13 New Life - Depeche Mode.
1:01:33 Photographic (+ sound test intro) - Depeche Mode.
1:06:04 Waving and end.

Synths used (L to R, Top to bottom): Roland Promars MRS-2, Roland JP8000, Kurzweil PC1x, Roland JX-8P, Emu Emax I and II.
All backtracks previously recorded on its entirely by me, track by track, on Pro Tools.
Video encoded with an analogue capture device (plus the usual hi8 camera), hence some colours are a bit distorted.
Performed live here by DX5 Jose Maria Bara."

Fade To Grey (Visage) on a Dr. Böhm Orchester DS 3003

video by Jürgen Merkle

"Gespielt von Jürgen Merkle auf einer Dr. Böhm Orchester DS 3003"

UKULELE & SYNTHESISER - ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC?

YouTube via GUGUG. RedSound Darkstar VA and Midiman controller.
"Gus and Fin's new direction! Is this the Ukulele New Wave?
Originally performed by Tubeway Army
If you want to see more in the same direction, then check out: Fin and Geishy in this one:"

Ukulele and Keyboards - Fade To Grey

"Fin pops round to see Geishy and does "Fade to Grey". Originally recorded by Visage in November 1980.

Filmed on location in Geishy's basement with subsequent backing bits added back in the comfort of the shed. Special thanks to Hazel for doing the French voiceover.

Check out Geishy's videos, including "Big Jobby", at http://www.youtube.com/geishy"

Gary Numan - Are 'Friends' Electric ? (1979)

YouTube via orestes988.
"Gary Numan performs Are Friends Electric from the Replica album. 1979."
Note Billy Currie of Ultravox and Visage on ARP Odyssey. Video also features the MOOG Polymoog and Minimoog and I'm guessing a Yamaha CS80.

BTW, I couldn't find the original video for Are Friends Electric, only the following clip. If anyone can find it, let me know.

GARY NUMAN- INTERVIEW 1979

YouTube via spaceboots5. "Countdown special on the artists of the the 70's"

and an interesting interview on Gary's other hobby:

Leo Sayer Interviews Gary Numan, October 1983

YouTube via smileyartproductions.
"Interview with Gary Numan from the Leo Sayer Show in 1983 in which Gary discusses his love of flying."

Visage-New Romantics Top 10

YouTube via chrisf242. One more of the Top 10 series. You can find all previously posted here along with some other synth oriented videos from chrisf242.
Update: finally got around to watching this one in whole. The most synth heavy band of the series and no synths featured. Sorry about that all. I saw the studio bits and assumed synths would show. Nope.