The Twins...what genre do they fit in?

[hutter]

For years I assumed that The Twins were new wave, or at the very least synthpop, but after getting my ass handed to me on a Italo-Disco site for daring to classify The Twins as anything but Italo, I'm needing a second opinion. Was I mistaken all these years? Or are those blokes on the Italo board just a tad bit touchy? I'd understand a lil' better if The Twins were Italian, but they're German, for pete's sake.

[Frau_Blucher]

I would definitely not classify them as clear-cut Italo. If you get dropped into the middle of Satellite City, Face to Face, Love System or any number of other songs, you easily might think you've landed in a Human League song. Those dolts are just posturing imho.

Now let's discuss some of this late 80s shit that some around here continue to categorize as new wave! [:(!]

Just kidding. [;)]

[hutter]

So what would you label them as? Synthpop? New Wave? What?

BTW: I see a lot of Gary Numan in Satellite City (as well as their entire first album). I never made much of a connection with their sound being like the Human League's. Looks like I'll have to give 'em another listen, huh?
<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h197/troylowe/twinspin.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>

[Ollie Stench]

I would say that they are classic mid-80's synthpop. I've got 2 albums (I forget which ones) and they remind me of a poppier cross between Depeche Mode and Human Leage MKII.

[Frau_Blucher]

[quote][i]Originally posted by hutter[/i]
<br>BTW: I see a lot of Gary Numan in Satellite City (as well as their entire first album). I never made much of a connection with their sound being like the Human League's. Looks like I'll have to give 'em another listen, huh?[/quote]
Not dead-on "like" Human League per se, but like Ollie says, really reminiscent of that type of synthpoppy new wave thing.

[fritzb]

IMHO their first 2 albums (Passion Factory & Modern Lifestyle) are definitely New Wave/Synthpop. By their own admission, their early influences were Tubeway Army, Gary Numan, OMD, and Depeche Mode (see: http://www.the-twins.de/pages/story_e.htm ).

Judge for yourself. Give a listen to a couple of these lesser known cuts from the [i]Modern Lifestyle[/i] album:

<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~newwavefan/Alive.mp3">I'm Staying Alive</a>

<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~newwavefan/BirdsAndDogs.mp3">Birds And Dogs</a>

Sounds pretty New Wave/Synthpop to me.


Their later material is certainly more Italo-flavored Discopop.

[fritzb]

OK, one more just to make the point...

<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~newwavefan/X-RayEyes.mp3">X-Rays Eyes</a> from [i]Passion Factory[/i]

Numan-esque enough for ya? [:p]

[georgie rockwood]

no way are the twins italo disco !!!!!!
i was living in duesseldorf west germany during the twins heyday and during that time in germany,they were just considered another pop band in the same style as,,,moti special,two of us,propaganda,daf etc...
at that time in germany,they didnt care about genre's etc....since the "neue deutsche welle" had already run its course from 1978 to 1981.......

percussionlover

[glokstadt]

Here's a great album by The Twins, enjoy!

<a href="http://photobucket.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l237/vespa_boy_2006/TheTwins1981LPPassionFactory.jpg" border="0" alt="Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket"></a>

The Twins - Passion Factory (1981)

01. The Passion Factory
02. X-Ray Eyes
03. Satelite City
04. Runaway
05. Electric Bats
06. The Desert Place
07. Night, Lights And Shadows
08. Younger Days
09. Wet Season
10. Synthetic World


http://rapidshare.com/files/22740909/Th ... _1981_.rar


Pass: lkarecnst



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[empyrean]

nice cover!! [:D][:D][:D]


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[budaniel]

I actually discovered some Twins songs in the past few years on Italo Disco compilations, and when I heard them, I was like--This is AMAZING new wave synthpop, who ARE these guys??? I immediately ordered all their CDs--they, to me, are predominantly new wave--very reminiscent of artists mentioned like Depeche, Human League, Gary Numan. I blended all my favorite songs by them right into my huge 80s folder on my ipod, and every time one of their songs comes on, i HAVE to check to see what artist it is because it's got such a classic new wave sound.

[groove grinder]

If you consider Twins "synthpop", then they are definitely New Wave, since this is just a sub genre from the broad new wave category. I don't think they sound Italo, because this category of music sounds kind of bubble gummish by my perception, and I don't think this describes the Twins at all.