Made In Sheffield – The Birth Of Electronic Pop
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: B- Documentary: B
New Wave gets a bad rap these days and it is based on
everything from a series of cheap shots, to those who missed the point. Sure, it all eventually became too safe and
commercial, but the problem was not the entire genre. Though some bands (Kraftwerk, Split Enz) were trying things with
electronic music, it really became a permanent fixture in music by the early
1980s. The end of the classical Disco
era is one reason, with the influence of Chic and the Giorgio Moroder/Donna
Summer collaborations looming large, brought dance music back in a
never-say-Disco way. Eve Wood’s Made
In Sheffield – The Birth Of Electronic Pop is a solid new documentary that
does a great job in about an hour of covering the rise of Sheffield as the
world capital of such music before big label commercial success caused enough
of a flight of talent to end Sheffield’s run of glory by 1983.
You may have heard of ABC, The Human League, Pulp, The
Damned and even Def Leppard (seemingly unrelated, but think of their
distinction form other Hard Rock bands like them), but you are less likely to
know the stories of Artery, The Torpedoes, Cabaret Voltaire, The Extras,
Clockdva, Veer, Cardboard Criminals, The Future, Used Toys, They Must Be
Russians, 3:2, The Studs and Vice Versa.
So many of these bands could have been as big and successful, certainly
being as talented, but it was not to be.
Without giving anything away, some of them had members that went on to
other more successful bands, but Miss Wood’s work shows so many great talents
and so much great music was left behind.
Hopefully, this work will be the beginning of that movement because
music could use the injection of such rediscovery as much now as ever. It’s amazing this music has not been sampled
or remade enough.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on analog PAL videotape (or a
digitally enhanced equivalent) and shows some age, but is fine for what was
needed and includes some great film and video clips, along with stills. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has no real
surround information, but is not bad either.
The combination is engaging enough to tell its story. Extras include stills, trailer, 3 extras
full-length performances, a great set of extra interview clips and a booklet
with key illustrations and text that further enhance the DVD. This is one of the best titles Plexifilm has
issued to date. Made In Sheffield
is a must-see for all serious music fans.
- Nicholas Sheffo
