Technostalgia

Description

Technostalgia is an album by the British synthpop duo Techno Twins (the husband-and-wife duo Bev Sage and Steve Fairnie), released on PRT (Precision Records and Tapes) in 1982, a UK label formerly known as Pye Records. The album was produced by Simon Humphrey and Techno Twins except tracks A5 and B1 produced by Humphrey and Nick Battle of After the Fire fame. The album track “Falling In Love Again” was re-recorded by The Technos (another Sage/Fairnie project) in 1985 and released as a single, produced by Phil Harding.

Husband and wife Bev Sage and Steve Fairnie were the Techno Twins who, for a moment in time, were big favourites at Greenbelt. Previously they had fronted the bands Writz and Famous Names and been a part of Fish Co but when their band twice failed to achieve mainstream pop success because their label went bust, it was time to strike out as a duo and make ’80s pop. They were a very talented pair with fingers in a few pies. This debut album saw them producing a mixture of glossy pop originals and creative cover versions. Their version of «Falling In Love Again» (yes, the Marlene Dietrich oldie) was their only chart success, reaching the bottom end of the top 75. They deserved more since their hybrid of «I Wanna Be Loved By You» and Glenn Miller’s «In The Mood» retitled «Swing Together» was very clever and extremely catchy. Their own pop funk demonstrated on «Gone With The Wind» and «Hi-Tech» was always very accomplished. Other covers of «I Got You Babe» and «Can’t Help Falling In Love» work really well too. They also did weird pretty well too on «Donald & Julie Go Boating», «Angels Of Mercy» and «Beautiful Women In Bermuda Shorts». So imagine creative, slightly off kilter ’80s synth pop and you get close to this. They could easily have become very popular since their first act to promote this album on release was to go on tour with top band of the day, Imagination. There were other albums that followed on from here but further chart success sadly eluded them. [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, September 2008]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/technostalgia-extended-edition/1597781892)

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Swing Together” (“I Wanna Be Loved By You”/”In The Mood”) – 2:42
A2. “Beautiful Women In Bermuda Shorts” – 3:43
A3. “Gone With The Wind” – 3:57
A4. “Hi-tech” – 4:22
A5. “Donald & Julie Go Boating” – 3:22
A6. “I Got You Babe” – 4:08

Side Two
B1. “Falling In Love Again” – 3:34
B2. “Romantic Nights” – 3:59
B3. “Kings & Queens Of Pleasure” – 3:41
B4. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (12-inch version) – 6:33
B5. “Angels Of Mercy” – 4:15

Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP. Later re-issued on CD. Track A1 contains extracts from “Moonlight Serenade” by Miller/Parish, “Third Man Theme” by Anton Cares and “By The Sleepy Lagoon” by Eric Coates.

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“Falling in Love Again” (MUSIC VIDEO)

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CREDITS. Produced by Simon Humphrey and Techno Twins (tracks: A1 to A4, A6, B2 to B5), and Simon Humphrey and Nick Battle (track A5 and B1). Synthesised Arrangements by David Hewson. Rhythms Arranged by Steve Fairnie. Vocals Arranged by Bev Sage. Track A1 arranged by John DuPrez. Engineered by Simon Humphrey and Techno Twins. Sleeve Concept by Bev Sage and Steve Fairnie. Cover Design by Bob Bowkett. Photography by Bill Zygmant and Virginia Turbett.

Musicians: Steve Fairnie (Vocals), Bev Sage (Vocals), David Hewson (Synthesizer, Piano), Ian Richie (Saxophone), John DuPrez (Horns), Jules Hardwick (Guitar on track B2), Simon Humphrey (Bass on track A2 and A4), Gus Hale (Drums – tracks: A2, A4, B5, Percussion), Andy Anderson (Drums on track A3), Dolphin Taylor (Drums on track A6).