
Studio Electrophonique tells the amazing story of the home studio that helped launch some of Britain’s most beloved bands.
Ken Patten’s home studio in Sheffield became the launch pad for a group of young musicians who would shape the futuristic sound of 1980s pop. The Human League, Heaven 17, Pulp, ABC. These early recordings with Ken showcased a DIY ethic which was the perfect fit for a city facing industrial decline but teeming with ideas.
Studio Electrophonique tells the story of a generation seeking new frontiers in music, using everything they could lay their hands on – from science fiction novels to glam rock, Dada art and cheap electronics – to get there. Drawing on original interviews with Jarvis Cocker, Martyn Ware, Mark White and others, it brings to light a world of humour, charm, creativity and unfounded yet undaunted self-belief.
Author Jamie Taylor’s playlist below contains a mix of tracks recorded, produced and/or engineered by Ken Patten at his Studio Electrophonique in Sheffield, UK, from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. Mostly un-Shazamable & un-Googleable – enjoy!