The first wave of English synth-pop stars sold themselves on sinister dreams and shadowy fantasies.
From Eurythmics crooning about all those who love to abuse (or be abused), to Soft Cell‘s salutes to seedy theaters and sex dwarves, to The Pet Shop Boys’ odes to male and female prostitutes, to Depeche Mode‘s celebration of “Masters and Servants,” the whole wave of early ’80s, Brit-synth bands soared on kink.
Now, more than a quarter century down the line, only one of these acts retains the clout to both stay on a major label and headline arenas around the world – those masters of sonic S&M themselves: DM.

