Jake Mace
Synthrock Musician Laurie Black offers up an eclectic exploration of the history of the synthesizer over an hour described as half ted talk and half live gig. With plenty to unpack in a short space of time, Laurie delivers a toe-tapping blend of cabaret and lecture which shows off her immense wealth of knowledge on the subject, alongside demonstrating great skill as a musician. You’ll find it hard not to fall into Black’s love and sentimentality for the instrument, and her charm and candour as a host provide levity and zest.
The show is not as deep as it is broad, with Black picking out what she deems the essential moments in synth history, in an ambitious attempt to cover seven decades that have seen the synth become an essential element of pop and rock music. These explorations are embellished by songs that demonstrate each of her key points, illustrating how, when, and where the synth was deployed to pivotally redirect music, culture and popular opinion across bands from The Beatles to Kraftwerk and beyond.
This is a piece that appeals to the music nerd in all of us – and Black does her best to make each element of the piecing together of this patchwork history as accessible as possible. It does feel like at points that there are chapters that are glossed over, and a bit of formal difficulty that Black encounters as we reach the 2000s, where the structure exploring seven decades seems to fall a little loosely.
Technically speaking, Black displays exceptional skill as a musician throughout – referencing how one audience member once gave her feedback that she was being too ‘twiddly’ with the synthesiser’s knobs, and to that I can only wholeheartedly disagree. It’s a marvel in itself to watch Black bring to life such iconic musical melodies in such a vivacious manner and so immediately.
There are points where it does feel we don’t dive deeply enough into the science behind the synth to grab a fully rounded picture of the instrument, though moments exploring the culture behind synths – brands, early adopters, and how some famous names responded to hearing synthpop music for the first time, are genuinely fascinating. It simply feels that sixty minutes is not enough time to balance a well-rounded ted talk style deepdive alongside the performances of the songs, both of which are essential elements to this piece.
Black’s highly enjoyable hour traverses a full range of musical styles and unpacks the key points that define the synth in pop culture history. With purpose, sincerity and sentimentality abound, you’re sure to fall right into this little, but essential, corner of the musical world.
Recommended Drink: Pair this with a Sinthe Wave Cocktail – sharp, complex, and bright.
Jasmine Silk
