Geisha Boys and Temple Girls – Heaven 17 (1981)
This is my favorite Heaven 17 song. Back in the ‘80s, when I found out Heaven 17 was formed by members who split from The Human League, it blew my mind. From that point onwards, I was always sure to learn what bands people had been in before or after whatever I listening to. In other words, I spent a lot of time with The Trouser Press Record Guide.
There’s so much to love about this song: The solo synth at the beginning that goes on longer than you expect, and then the payoff after that when the track explodes; the headlong pitter-patter chug of the drum machine; and the way the opening synth line organizes itself and returns, twisting and cascading around the vocals . It all reminds me of a time when the technology was fresh and exciting and musicians were inspired to make crazy joyous noises.
