The 1983 Listening Post - Freur - Doot Doot

Freur - Doot Doot

1983 Housekeeping
Freur
Doot-Doot
4 out of 5

Highlights:
Doot-Doot
Riders in the Night
Tender Surrender

Remember “Doot-Doot”? I have no idea why this is so firmly planted in my amygdala but as soon as it comes on I am transported to some part of my past, a bus ride beck to Jersey from NYU, or smoking Benson & Hedges Deluxe Ultra Lights in my dorm room and it was probably something my roommate was playing as he was discovering his sexual identity (and smoking, lots of smoking…this was Kevin, not Eric, the record guy) and it all feels so real and yet, I know that I never had this record, nor had I heard it, but it’s all so familiar and brings me happiness. There’s a lot hints of what Gary Numan was trying to do a couple years before on Dance, also Mitchell From with his soundtrack to Cafe Flesh. But with more confidence and honesty than the former and more heart than the latter.
Anyway, is it good? Experimental British synth-pop that revels in it’s own outsiderness. It’s lush and luscious and hypnotically earnest. This is a record that seems so uninterested in radio airplay and anticipates Molly fueled house raves. I love it. If only they hadn’t indulged themselves on the spoken word Bowie-wannabe-ness of “Steam Machine”.
it should probably only rate 3.75 but I found myself engrossed. Had it not been for the last two tracks, it would’ve been rated 4.25