OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT

Pop Friday: Featured in Spy Vibe's listening booth today are songs connected with the Official Secrets Act. Passed into law to protect sensitive state information, the OSA inspired an interesting album by Robin Scott's project M (Pop Muzik) in 1980. The Official Secrets Act LP captured the Cold War climate in tunes like Transmission, Join the Party, Working For the Corporation, Keep it to Yourself, Your Counry Needs You, and The Official Secrets Act. The inner sleeve even sported a parody of the Crown seal, now dubbed "For Your Ears." 

The album is currently out of print, but Spy Vibers can track down copies on the used market. Robin Scott also released a collection in 2004 called History: Pop Muzik 25th Anniversary, which featured most of the songs from the original record. Scott studied art with Malcolm MacLaren at Croydon Art College. He followed M with a series of recordings by African artists and digital art projects in the early 2000s. Spy Vibers might enjoy his collaborations with Ryuichi Sakamoto (YMO) Left Handed Dream and The Arrangement. 

Samples from M's Official Secrets Act below, followed by a bonus song from the 2006-2009 UK indie band Official Secrets Act (OSA) and their catchy Girl From the BBC. Spy Vibe's recent post about Atomic Art, Devo, and Kraftwerk here. Enjoy!

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