Today’s video of the day is I Start Counting – "Lose Him" released in 1986.
The video for “Lose Him” by I Start Counting captures the moody synth-driven essence of 1980s electronic music. Released in 1986, the track appears on the duo’s debut album My Translucent Hands, issued by Mute Records. The song blends minimalist beats with emotional detachment, a signature of the band’s early style. I Start Counting formed in London in 1982. David Baker and Simon Leonard met at Middlesex University and shared a love of electronics and pop. Their early work drew inspiration from Kraftwerk and early Human League. With Daniel Miller of Mute Records as their producer, they refined their cold, clean sound across two albums. “Lose Him” stands out as a melancholic yet danceable single. Its sparse lyrics and repetitive synth lines mirror the era’s fascination with technology and emotional alienation. The accompanying video reflects that tone. It features dim lighting, abstract visuals, and stark performance shots. These elements enhance the song’s hypnotic pull.
The album My Translucent Hands introduced I Start Counting’s distinctive approach. It blended icy melodies with pop sensibilities. Their second album, Fused, released in 1989, continued this sound but leaned slightly more into layered production and club textures. Still, both records remain rooted in the electro-pop style that defined their first era. By 1990, the duo evolved. Their sound shifted toward techno and house. They renamed themselves Fortran 5 and released more sample-heavy, dance-focused tracks on Mute. This phase marked a departure from the restrained feel of “Lose Him.” In the mid-1990s, they reinvented themselves again as Komputer, embracing a stripped-down, Kraftwerk-inspired sound.
“Lose Him” serves as a clear link to I Start Counting’s origins. It reflects their early fascination with emotional minimalism and synth precision. Compared to their later work as Fortran 5 and Komputer, the track shows how their sound would eventually fragment and diversify. However, the emotional weight and electronic clarity of “Lose Him” remain central across their entire discography. The video for “Lose Him” remains a strong visual companion to a song that still resonates. It is a lasting example of the duo’s unique voice in 1980s synth-pop.
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