"The Synthesizer Sound Machine" by The Fantastic Pikes (catalogue number 9044) is a 1974 Australian LP that delivers a playful, Moog-driven reinterpretation of pop, classical, and cinematic themes, blending kitsch with analog charm.

🎛️ Album Overview

• Title: The Synthesizer Sound Machine

• Artist: The Fantastic Pikes

• Label: Sonic / Somerset – 9044 (Goldengroove Series)

• Format: Vinyl, LP, Stereo

• Country: Australia (originally released in Germany)

• Release Year: 1974

• Genre: Electronic, Pop

• Style: Instrumental, Moogsploitation

🎶 Tracklist Highlights

This LP features 12 tracks, each reimagined with Moog synthesizers and studio instrumentation:

Side A:

• Bottoms Up – A funky, upbeat opener with synth flourishes.

• Mouldy Old Dough – A novelty hit turned into a quirky electronic jam.

• Boccherini’s Minuet – Classical elegance meets analog experimentation.

• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly – Morricone’s western theme with space-age flair.

• Mozart 40 – A synth adaptation of Symphony No. 40’s iconic motif.

• Popcorn – A bubbly cover of Gershon Kingsley’s Moog anthem.

Side B:

• House of the Rising Sun – The Animals’ classic rendered in dramatic synth tones.

• Heykens’ Serenade – A light classical piece with dreamy textures.

• If You Could Read My Mind – Gordon Lightfoot’s ballad reimagined electronically.

• La Journée – A lesser-known track with lounge-style synth ambiance.

• Ghostriders in the Sky – Cowboy mystique meets Moog theatrics.

• Telstar – A fitting tribute to the original synth-pop hit by The Tornados.

Sources: 【1†Discogs】【3†RateYourMusic】

🧠 Musical Style & Legacy

This album is a textbook example of Moogsploitation—a 1970s trend where popular tunes were reinterpreted using Moog synthesizers for novelty and futuristic appeal. The Fantastic Pikes were likely a studio ensemble, possibly featuring members of Lucifer’s Friend (Peter Hesslein, Peter Hecht, Dieter Horns, Addy Rietenbach), credited anonymously.

Expect punchy rhythms, swirling synth leads, and kitschy charm. It’s a collector’s favorite for fans of vintage electronic music and analog experimentation. The LP was distributed in Australia by Radio Corporation Pty. Ltd., with sleeve notes in both English and German.