Listening to the Music the Machines Make
Book Playlist

Listening to the Music the Machines Make Playlist

by Richard Evans

20 tracks
balanced
May 13, 2026

This playlist captures the dynamic and pioneering spirit of the early British electronic pop revolution between 1978 and 1983, blending experimental instrumentals with evocative vocal tracks that reflect the book's exploration of krautrock, disco, glam, and punk influences. The mix of instrumental and vocal songs mirrors the evolution and emotional arc of electronic music's formative years, with diverse sub-genres and artists evoking the era's innovative energy and cultural backdrop.

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Track List

20 songs
1

Blue Monday

White Knight Instrumental · Instrumental Covers of New Order

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2

Oxygene, Pt. 4

Jean-Michel Jarre · Time Traveler (Symphonic Organ Edition) [Symphonic Organ Interpretations of Jean-Michel Jarre]

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3

Merry-Go-Round of Life - from 'Howl's Moving Castle'

Joe Hisaishi · Radar de Éxitos: Instrumentales

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4

Wavelength

Sleep Navigator · Wavelength

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5

Moon In Your Eye

Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith · I Could Be Your Dog / I Could Be Your Moon

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6

Spiral

Ólafur Arnalds · some kind of peace

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7

Techno Syndrome (Mortal Kombat)

The Immortals · Mortal Kombat: The Album

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8

Pacific State

808 State · Clásicos de la Música Electrónica

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9

Music Sounds Better With You

Stardust · Music Sounds Better With You

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10

Just Can't Get Enough

Depeche Mode · Canzoni estive

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11

Enola Gay

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark · Electronic 80's (Ministry Of Sound)

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12

Cars - Live

Gary Numan · Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1989 (audio Version)

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13

Temptation

Heaven 17 · The Best Of Heaven 17: Higher And Higher

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14

Fade To Grey

Visage · Cool - Dance

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15

Planet Rock (Public Enemy - Fight the Power)

Afrika Bambaataa · Sample This! The Foundation of Modern Classics

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16

Dancing with Myself

Sweet Little Band · Babies Go Billy Idol

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17

Are 'Friends' Electric?

Gary Numan · Fragment 02-04

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18

Popular - but it's slowed and muffled

TommyMuzzic · Popular

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19

Living On The Ceiling

Blancmange · Everything Is Connected (The Best of Blancmange)

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20

Midnight Kings

Luminary Flux · Why not?

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Playlist Settings

The preferences requested for this mix.

Mood balanced
Genre match
Era any
Length medium
Instrumental request 50%
Environment balanced

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