New Wave

New wave on vinyl: pop and rock after punk

In short: New wave emerged in the late seventies when bands combined the energy of punk with synthesizers, art and fashion. In Britain The Cure, New Order, Heaven 17 and Culture Club shaped the early eighties, in Germany the Neue Deutsche Welle with Nena. The Vinyl Room currently has 84 new wave records.

What is new wave?

Angular guitars, cool synthesizers and sing-along melodies: Heaven 17 combined funk and electronics on “Penthouse And Pavement”, Culture Club pop and soul on “Kissing To Be Clever”, while Killing Joke and The Damned show the darker side. Nena had a worldwide hit with “99 Luftballons” – here also as “99 Red Balloons”.

The sound lives on: Nouvelle Vague play new wave songs as bossa nova, and Danish producer Trentemøller draws it into his electronic music.

What to look for

Many new wave singles came out in several countries with their own sleeves and 12-inch versions. Which edition you get is noted with each copy.

From our stock

First pressings

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→ The Cure · New Order · Synth-pop · Rock on vinyl · How to spot a first pressing · Grading explained

FAQ

What is new wave? Pop and rock after punk, from the late seventies, with synthesizers, artistic ambition and fashion.

Is new wave the same as synth-pop? Not quite – synth-pop puts synthesizers at the centre, while new wave also covers guitar-driven bands.

What is the Neue Deutsche Welle? The German variety of new wave in the early eighties, here for example with Nena.

Is there new wave from Denmark? Here, for example, from producer Trentemøller, who takes up the sound.