The Best of 80s Instrumental Electronic Music

The 1980s were a golden age for instrumental electronic music. Artists like Tangerine Dream, Vangelis, and Jean Michel Jarre were pushing the boundaries of what was possible with synthesizers and other electronic instruments.

Today, we’re looking back at the best of 80s instrumental electronic music. From classics like Vangelis’ Blade Runner soundtrack to lesser-known gems, these are the tracks that defined a decade.

Introduction

The 1980s saw the advent of electronic music, and with it, a new genre of instrumental music. This new type of music was characterized by its use of synthesizers and other electronic instruments, as well as its focus on atmosphere and melody.

While electronic music had been around for a few decades by the time the 1980s rolled around, it was in this decade that it truly came into its own. This was thanks in part to the development of new technologies, such as the MIDI standard, which made it possible for different electronic instruments to communicate with each other. This made it possible for musicians to create more complex and interesting sounds, which in turn led to the popularity of instrumental electronic music.

The 1980s also saw the rise of a number of pioneering artists who helped to define the sound of this new genre. Artists such as Jean Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and Kraftwerk were all responsible for creating some of the most iconic and influential instrumental electronic music of the era.

If you’re a fan of instrumental electronic music from the 1980s, then this list is for you. Here you’ll find some of the best examples of this genre from one of its most golden eras.

The Birth of Electronic Music

Instrumental electronic music comes into its own in the 1980s, as artists explore the sonic possibilities of the newly available technology. The result is a golden age of electronic music, with innovative and influential albums released in every year of the decade. In this article, we will countdown the best of these albums, as well as taking a look at the history of instrumental electronic music.

The first electronic instruments

In the late 19th century, inventors began creating devices that produced sound by electrical means. These instruments, called electromechanical instruments, included the electric piano, celesta, and organ. These were not pure electronic instruments; electromechanical means were used to convert the electrical energy into mechanical energy, which was then converted into sound.

Although some of these instruments were used in orchestras and bands, most were intended for solo performers or small ensembles. They were not commercially successful and were quickly forgotten. It would be many years before electronic music would again become popular.

The first electronic music composers

In the early 20th century, composers started to experiment with electricity and electronics in an attempt to create new and innovative sounds. This led to the birth of electronic music, a genre that has continued to evolve and grow in popularity ever since.

One of the first electronic music composers was Frenchman Pierre Schaeffer, who is credited with inventing the genre. In 1948, Schaeffer created the first ever piece of electronic music using only recorded sounds. He called this piece “musique concrete,” and it laid the foundation for all future electronic music compositions.

Over the next few decades, other composers began experimenting with electronic music, resulting in the creation of various new subgenres. Some of these subgenres include techno, house, drum and bass, trance, and IDM (intelligent dance music).

Today, electronic music is one of the most popular genres in the world, with artists like Skrillex, deadmau5, and Calvin Harris selling out stadiums and headlining major festivals. If you’re a fan of danceable beats and synthesized sounds, then you’re sure to enjoy this genre!

The 80s

The 80s was a decade of huge transition in music. We saw the rise of electronic music, the fall of disco, and the birth of hip hop. We also saw a lot of great instrumental electronic music being made. Here are some of the best examples of 80s instrumental electronic music.

The advent of the personal computer

The advent of the personal computer in the early 1980s changed electronic music. Prior to this, electronic music had been created using expensive and cumbersome equipment, which was primarily the domain of professional studios and academic institutions. But with the personal computer, anyone with a home computer could create their own electronic music. This democratization of electronic musicmaking led to a boom in the genre, with countless independent artists and labels springing up around the world. The 1980s saw the rise of many iconic electronic artists, such as Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, and New Order, who would go on to influence generations of musicians. The sound of the 80s also saw a return to simpler, catchier melodies after the complex experimentalism of the 70s; this new pop sensibility would come to dominate popular music in the following decades.

The rise of synthesizers

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a new type of music emerged that would come to be known as synth-pop. This genre was characterized by the use of synthesizers to create catchy, pop-friendly melodies. The synthesizer, which had been previously used primarily in experimental and electronic music, was now being embraced by mainstream pop and rock artists.

The rise of synthesizers in popular music was largely due to the advent of affordable and portable electronic keyboards. In the early 1980s, brands such as Yamaha, Casio, and Roland began releasing entry-level synthesizers that were small enough to fit in a home studio or be transported to gigs. These instruments were much easier to use than earlier generations of synthesizers, which often required patching together different modules with complicated wiring schemes.

With the increased accessibility of synthesizers, more and more musicians began experimenting with them in a wide variety of genres. In particular, synth-pop became hugely popular in Europe during the early 1980s. Groups such as Depeche Mode, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, and Duran Duran all achieved massive commercial success with their danceable synth-based hits. The popularity of synth-pop would eventually spread to North America, where groups like A Flock of Seagulls and New Order also found success with the style.

The birth of house music

In the early 1980s, a new type of music was born in the clubs of Chicago. Called house music, it was created by DJs who were influenced by the disco sound but wanted to create something that was more minimalistic and danceable. House music was soon adopted by clubbers in other cities, and it eventually became one of the most popular genres of dance music in the world.

The Best of 80s Instrumental Electronic Music

If you’re a fan of 80s instrumental electronic music, then this is the article for you. We’ll be discussing some of the best 80s instrumental electronic music in this article. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the article.

Vangelis

Electronic music legend Vangelis released some of his best work in the 1980s. From the classic Blade Runner soundtrack to his own solo albums, Vangelis’ unique sound was a revolutionary force in the world of instrumental electronic music. Here are some of the best tracks from this influential artist.

Tangerine Dream

Tangerine Dream is an English electronic music group founded in 1967 by Edgar Froese in West Berlin. The group has seen many personnel changes over the years, with Froese being the only constant member. They are considered to be one of the key groups representing the Berlin School style of electronic music.

Their albums Phaedra (1974) and Rubycon (1975) are both considered essential works of 1970s electronic music. In the 1980s, the group shifted its style towards a more commercial sound with their albums Virgin Records, White Eagle (1982), Poland (1984), and Le Parc (1985).

Jean Michel Jarre

Jean Michel Jarre is a French composer, performer and record producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, synthpop and new-age genres, and his work has been featured in several films and television series. His signature use of visual effects, lasers and lightshows during his live performances has made him a popular concert artist.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best of 80s instrumental electronic music spans a wide range of styles, from the early synth-pop of Depeche Mode and New Order to the more experimental work of Brian Eno and Kraftwerk. While there is no one definitive sound or genre, this decade was undoubtedly a golden age for electronic music, and its influence can still be felt today.