Last night (October 25) we went to see The Buggles play a gig. You know them, they had a hit with Video Killed The Radio Star back in 1979 and then singer Trevor Horn went on to produce some of the most extraordinary sounding records of the 1980s. Yes, them. This wouldn’t be so remarkable if it weren’t for the fact that The Buggles didn’t ever play live. Until now. And even that wouldn’t have been so remarkable if the gig itself hadn’t felt like a cheese-influenced dream our teenage self once had.

It was when The Buggles started to play an instrumental version of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Two Tribes that we started to question reality. On guitar was the ZTT label's in-house engineer/mad scientist Stephen Lipson – the man who played on the original record. Pulling off the the far-too-tricky bass part with ease is Trevor – the man whose unique production tinkering turned a barely-there song into a mighty, remixed beast of a record. If anyone had a right to play Two Tribes it was them.

The aforementioned Video Killed The Radio Star sounded as invigorating as ever, Living In The Plastic Age a quaint reminder of what the future was once meant to sound like, and Elstree is a forgotten gem from Horn and keyboardist Geoff Downes’ brief career as reluctant popstars.

A further delve into Trevor's greatest hits gave us 1985’s Slave To the Rhythm (possessor of one of the most exciting intros to any pop record ever). But instead of Grace Jones, Alison Moyet took the bellowing diva roll. Only Alison Moyet is skinny and slinky now. When did this happen? We were torn between marveling at how good she looked, and declaring her a traitor to the cause of big women. They’ve only got Dawn French left now. 

Then Lol Creme (sorry, we forgot to mention he was also on stage) revisited his lead vocals on 10cc’s first number one Rubber Bullets and we became convinced we were somehow watching TOTP2 live. 

The Buggles ended what we think was only their third live performance with a cover version of Will.I.Am and Nicki Minaj’s Check It Out! You know, the one that samples Video Killed The Radio Star. Neat.

We’re not entirely sure why this all happened. The venue was the British Music Experience, at the O2. Which, apart from trying to charge us £3.20 for an actual can of Coke, is planning to host similar shows by musical pioneers. So we’re in favour. 

We think the gig also served as a relaunch for Trevor, Stephen and Lol’s The Producer’s project. But we’ll tell you more about that when we know more about it. It’s sounding exciting though – if you’re the kind of person who gets excited about such things.

And if you are the kind of person who gets excited about such things, there’s a second volume of the ZTT compiling The Art of the 12" on the way.

Want to see the tracklisting before ANYONE else? Go on then…

Disc One:

01. ‘you are warmly invited to come inside’

02. Frankie Goes to Hollywood: ‘Two Tribes’ (Keep the Peace) *

03. Paul McCartney: ‘Spies Like Us’ (Art of Noise Remix) **

04. Godley & Creme: ‘Cry’ (Extended Remix) *

05. Instinct: ‘Swamp Down’ (12” Mix) **

06. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: ‘Julia’s Song’ (Extended Version) *

07. 808 State Vs. Art of Noise: ‘Moments in Love’ (Massey Mix One) **

08. Thomas Leer: ‘Heartbeat’ (Extended Mix) *

09.  ‘bassline interlude’ **

10. Act: ‘Chance’ (Whammy Mix) **

11.  Frankie Goes  to Hollywood:  ‘War’ (Coming Out  of Hiding) **

12.  Propaganda: ‘Dr Mabuse der Spieler’ (An International Incident) * 

Disc Two:

01.  Scritti  Politti:  ‘Absolute’  (Version)

02. Art  of  Noise:  ‘Close  Up’

03.  Propaganda:  ‘Sorry for Laughing’ (12” Mix) **

04. Das Psych-Oh! Rangers: ‘He He Radical’ (Episode 2) *

05.  ‘piano interlude’ **

06. Nasty Rox Inc.:  ‘What Is It’  (Live Instrumental Wonder)  **

07. Mint  Juleps:  ‘Every Kinda People’ (Parts I, II and III)

08. Anne Pigalle: ‘Hé Stranger’ (Parts I, II and III); 

09. 808 State Vs. Art of Noise: ‘Moments in Love’ (Massey Mix Three) **

10. ‘the flash forward’

11. Frankie Goes to Hollywood: ‘Relax’ (Man Has a Sense for the Discovery of Beauty, Part I) **

12. ‘zang tuum interlude’;

13. Art of Noise: ‘Close Up’  (Hop)

14. Propaganda:  ‘Dr Mabuse’  (Special Instrumental Mix) *

15. ‘cadenza’

** previously unreleased

* previously unreleased on CD

It’s out on Feb 20, 2012. Which is the future.

The Buggles - Adventures in Modern Recording 2.0 is available to buy by clicking this.