TUBEWAY ARMY - ARE ‘FRIENDS’ ELECTRIC? 1979

Gary Numan became the first synth-based artist in Britain to break into major commercial success during the post punk era with the release of this single, despite being over five minutes long and possessing, in the words of its composer, “no recognisable hook-line whatsoever”. Inspired by a failed relationship with a Beggar’s Banquet employee and filtered through imagery drawn from Philip K. Dick’s science fiction story Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, the sound features subdued and even spoken-word vocals, heavily flanged guitars, and prominent use of a soaring sawtooth Minimoog synth.

Full album here.