Retro style

Retro style is style that is consciously derivative or imitative of trends, music, modes, fashions, or attitudes of the recent past, typically 15–50 years old.

Definition

The term rétro has been in use since the 1970s to describe on the one hand new artifacts that self-consciously refer to particular modes, motifs, techniques, and materials of the past. But on the other hand, some people (incorrectly) use the term to categorise styles that have been created in the past. Retro style refers to new things that display characteristics of the past. It is mostly the recent past that retro seeks to recapitulate, focusing on the products, fashions and artistic styles produced since the Industrial Revolution, of Modernity. The word "retro" derives from the Latin prefix retro, meaning backwards, or in past times.

In France, the word rétro, an abbreviation for rétrospectif gained cultural currency with reevaluations of Charles de Gaulle and France’s role in World War II. The French mode rétro of the 1970s reappraised in film and novels the conduct of French civilians during the Nazi occupation. The term rétro was soon applied to nostalgic French fashions that recalled the same period.

Retro (EP)

Retro was the only EP (7") by Ultravox, then Ultravox!, released on 10 February 1978. It was the last recording released by the band as Ultravox!. Also this was the last disc featuring original guitarist Stevie Shears, who left the band after its release.

The EP featured four live tracks recorded in 1977 or early 1978, while Ultravox! were promoting one of their first two albums, Ultravox! and Ha! Ha! Ha!, both released in 1977.

In 2006, Island Records re-released the tracks, adding them to remastered versions of Ultravox!'s albums. The tracks from side two of the EP were included on the reissue of Ultravox! and the side one tracks on the reissue of Ha! Ha! Ha!.

Track listing

All tracks written by Ultravox!

A-Side

B-Side

Personnel

Retro (KMFDM album)

Retro is a KMFDM compilation album featuring a sampling of the band's more popular songs. It was initially released in 1996 as a promotional item, and released for sale to the public in 1998.

Track listing

References