Are Friends Electric?

Mark Lane
Genre: Electro / Industrial / Gothic
From: Hollywood, California, United States

In the early 1980s moody electronic music was the sound of the future. John Foxx, Cabaret Voltaire, Fad Gadget, The Human League and Gary Numan, The Normal were at the forefront of an eclectic and innovative scene that took up the baton from pioneers Kraftwerk, Suicide and Brian Eno popularising the 'futurist' sound and topping the charts around the globe.

Howver the finger of fate can be cruel because while the Phil Oakeys, Gary Numans and others were riding the wave of the futurist movement there were many bands and artists who were as good, if not better, who simply got submerged under the waves never to be seen again. One of those overlooked was Mark Lane and when you hear the tracks on his myspace site it's a mystery why he wasn't huge.

From the early Human League via PIL stylings of 'Tsar' to the John Foxx like 'Halcyon Sentimental', from the Enoesque 'Atomium' to the 'Ashes to Ashes' era Bowie of 'Sojourn' and The Concert Wheel' which wouldn't sound out of place on a Best of Depeche Mode album it's like a heaven sent compilation of the best of 80s futurism. So why has Mark remained in obscurity for so long? With the right management, support and promotion many of Mark's tracks would have made the top 10 of any chart in the early 80s. When you recall some of the godawful bands and artists that jumped on the futurist bandwagon and had hits with sub standard, and thankfully long forgotten tracks, it's further evidence of the lack of justice in the music industry.

Go find out more at Mark's myspace site and website (links below) and take a trip down memory Lane!

Go Try

MP3 - Mark Lane - Earwig
If anyone from the IFPI is reading this track is linked direct from Mark Lane's website and is therefore already freely available so please refrain from alleging infringement of copyright.

Go Buy














Go Visit

Mark Lane - Myspace // Website

Go View

Mark Lane
Atomium


"Atomium"