Synth-pop (1981), which produced a series of hit singles. These included "Don't You Want Me", which reached number one in the UK at the end of 1981. Synth-pop reached its commercial peak in the UK in the winter of 1981–2, with bands such as Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Japan, Ultravox, Soft Cell, Depeche Mode and even Kraftwerk, enjoying top ten hits. In early 1982 synthesizers were so dominant that the Musicians Union attempted to limit their use. By the end of 1982, these acts had been joined in the charts by synth-based singles from Thomas Dolby, Blancmange, and Tears for
Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? Who's Afraid of the Art of Noise? (Who's Afraid Of) The Art of Noise is the debut full-length album by English avant-garde synth-pop group Art of Noise, released on 19 June 1984 on ZTT Records. It features the UK hit singles "Close (To the Edit)" which reached No. 8 in the UK chart in November 1984 and the double A-sided "Moments in Love"/"Beat Box", which made it to No. 51 during April 1985 in the UK. In a retrospective review, Charles Waring of "Record Collector" magazine gave the album four out of five stars and called it a "techno-pop classic".