Hot Gossip — Geisha Boys & Temple Girls

Hot Gossip were a dance troupe/ experimental Synth pop collective from the late 70’s / early 80’s. This is their debut album from 1981 is a quirky at times quite electro noise lined and experimental slice of  synth pop making and electronica- which  had  a big input from both  Martyn Ware and Ian Marsh(ex Human League, Heaven 17, ect).

The album is very theatrical, quirky and often highly camp,  but it also sits rather in a strange sonic place as it’s a bit too out there and odd edged for your common garden synth pop fan- yet it’s not far enough out for more experimental synth fans, which is probably why it  was a commercial disaster at the time & hasn’t been reissued until now. But I’ll have to say I rather enjoyed it’s creative if dated air; the tracks throbbing ‘n’ bobbing with synth lines and sometimes funky bass lines which are often ribbed with weird studio effects, samples and electro chirps and noises. Yet the songs often have memorable and dramatic melodic curves with both male and female singing in place but things never too ‘pop’ like. You can hear traces of Hazel O'Connor & Heaven 17’s  more theatrical elements and this often feels like it could be the soundtrack to some bizarre synth pop musical.

All in all it’s a quirky little slice of expermentail synth pop wonder from the early 80’s that’s alive with camp and atmospheric intentions. With the only downside about the whole thing been it would have been nice to see some Hot Gossip dance moves too as they look rather exotic,camp and cheesy from the albums pictures.