two 80s electro-pop acts......

[fudgeflaps]

Too good to be included with those two, no-brainer. Up there with New Order and fanboy Numan. If the Cure can get way with sporadic electro-pop in the face of outright indie, they are in the Holy Trinity of DM and NO.

[fudgeflaps]

Where would you place Flock of Seagulls, Yazoo and Japan relative to:

Pet Shop Boys;

Erasure;

Depeche Mode;

New Order;

The Cure;

Gary Numan;

Tears for Fears;

Soft Cell;

Black Lace;

Human League.

Go for YOUR hierarchy!

[Jacques]

Japan? Big fan right from around '77. Even bought Dolphin Brothers, JBK, Rain Tree Crow, all of Sylvians solo stuff and collaborations when they split.

Sylvian is a fucking genius.

[Pervert]

You missed out OMD.

Sorry, guys, but I find Depeche Mode coma-inducing (and bear in mind this thread has already mentioned the Pet Shop Boys).

[Jacques]

And Talk Talk

[fudgeflaps]

Jean-Michel Jarre. Do, do-doo-doo do. His shows are good for cheap medical lasering techniques....... spoils a good tattoo though.

[Jacques]

And Visage

[Jonone]

Vince Clarke is a very very capable pop writer and everything he's touched - Depeche, Yazoo, Assembly, Happy Mondays re-mix and Erasure has had a brilliant pop sensibility.

Similarly Pet Shop Boys combined a great ear for a tune with articulate substantial lyrics. Don't know about the more recent output of either act but during their imperial phase both were .. imperial !