Stratovarious (BBC2 1984-1986)

When Kung Flute was taken out of service on BBC2 in 1984, it was replaced by a new tape called Stratovarious which was sounding very technical for its time, as this occurred at around the same time as the introduction of Testcard F's digitised version.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• BBC2
• testcard
• music

[beatpoetsstudio]

Hi

I wrote and recorded this using a Roland MC4 and a Roland SH09, I use a Linn LM1 for the Drums which was the second one in the UK, Peter Gabriel had the other one and I had just started using the Fairlight CMI and PPG Wavetem so they are on there as well as a Jupiter 4.

Violin was played by Liz Edwards.

Regards

Nigel

[beatpoetsstudio]

Some of the lead lines on that track were played by the legendary Colin Towns

[bramptondotcom]

Nigel

Delayed reaction, when u pmed me didn't realise you were the composer, job well done mate! Thanks for the info you supplied as I now have my copy of Electronic and to my shear pleasure and surprise track 2 (Highway Coda) is a full minute longer on the album than the version contained here - needless to say this track has since seen heavy rotation in my house.

[beatpoetsstudio]

Hi

Thanks for the nice comments, Statovarious came from a Chappell Production Music album called "Electronic" (Chap 101) CD, I have seen it for sale on the internet quite often.

I now have the Multi-Tracks of the album back and have been looking at updating it soon.

Regards

[GiggityGiggityGoo22]

Track two of Stratovarious sounds like a Kim McCrodden score.

[anorak103]

If you liked the Nigel Bates track on this tape, you can find more about the man and his music at

beat-poets. com

He's responsible for quite a lot of synth sounds in pop (check out the Sound on Sound article linked from the Press Articles page!)

[PagesFromCeefax]

WOW! An all-time classic, well ahead of its time. I especially liked tracks 1 and 2, and once heard, they were never forgotten.

[bramptondotcom]

Thanks for the response bidanton, heres hoping for a cd release soon! I agree very 80s and all the better for it

[bidanton]

I think this maybe from September 1985 on BBC2 with Test Card F (Digital Version) then Pages From Ceefax.

As for your question, bramptondotcom about whether this music is available on CD, well I don't think it is as far as I know.

I am a member of the Test Card Circle, and in their Journal/Magazine they do have ads for various CDs but as I say, none with this on as far as I know.

This music also sounds like the various synth pop artists of the 1980s, albeit as an instrumental version.

[bramptondotcom]

Is any of this sequence available on cd? I am aware of a few cds out there with testcard music but never found this one yet