Smoliк - Smoliк 3

A late summer jazz pop smorgasbord from Poland, featuring lots of cool songs and guests!

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Aмвяosiα - One Eighty (1980)

Whilst not as overtly progressive as this group's legendary self-titled from 1975, this turn-of-the-decade LP is probably their best pure Westcoast record: the biggest singles from here, 'You're The Only Woman' and 'Biggest Part Of Me', are both gorgeous FM radio staples and rank as two of the best songs to come out of the entire damn genre during its heyday. Their grand, proggy past rears itself on a number of great other songs too though, as the killer bass groove of 'Livin' On My Own' and the eerie keyboard chug of 'Kamikaze' demonstrate in spectacular measure.

Essential listening for fans of both Westcoast pop and crossover progressive rock!

NOTE: The below video is just the best I could find. My upload is a CD rip, not vinyl.

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Tαtsuro Yαmαshitα - For You (1982)

My favorite album from this guy by a decent margin. As good as 1983's Melodies is (posted here on TWE eons ago), For You is the king of Japanese Westcoast records: from the infectious guitar line of 'Sparkle' to the shimmering Beach Boys-esque closing number 'Your Eyes', Tatsuro-san pulls no punches. Oceanic surf-pop doesn't get much better than this!

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Lloyd McNeill - Asha (1969)

Chilled. Out. Jazz. Flute. Madness.

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Hαrold Bυdd - Lovεly Thυndεr (1986)

Classy deep ambient record straight outta the synthesized, fantastical side of the mid 80's. Budd treads some interesting ground here, as if trying to one up both Brian Eno and David Sylvian simultaneously in a single fell swoop of the keyboard.

In other words, not a bad soundtrack to someone's hypothetical alternative take on Blade Runner. Makes for a helluva sleeping aid too!

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Pεt Shop Boys - Bεhaviour (1990)

This is a point of contention I suppose, but I personally consider this turn-of-the-decade album one of the best synth-pop excursions ever crafted and the magnum opus of the Boys from the land of ice and snow. Those gorgeous keyboard textures, dem early 90's beatz, all the slick orchestral flourishes on tracks such as 'My October Symphony'...its a stone cold classic, ladies and gents. Opening number 'Being Boring' features the ever popular Johnny Marr on guitar as well!

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