Thomas Dolby saw his first commercial release in 1982 with his debut album 'The Golden Age Of Wireless.' Lacking a great initial commercial success, Dolby did not become known until the release of 'She Blinded Me With Science' as a single later that year. Following the success of the track, which became synonymous with Dolby, his debut album was rereleased to include it and Dolby subsequently was able to continue his aspirations for a musical career, which is still active today.
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| Thomas Dolby: She Blinded Me With Science |
The track is typical of 80's music with the adoption of electronic instruments alongside a popular music writing style. For the time, the mixing of this track is truly admirable, something Dolby himself notes in an interview from his later 'The Sole Inhabitant' live DVD/Live Album. Some may consider the track rather gimmicky due to the playful setting and various interjections by Magnus Pyke, a TV presenter and scientist well known at the time, however the writing style is sound and rewards academic study.
The piece features great variety when one listens carefully, each verse and chorus introducing new elements which make a brief cameo appearance. The further use of layering throughout is also notable. While this is common to much of the commercial output of the 1980's, the application of layering in this track is highly accomplished and composers in this genre would do well to study for instance the interaction of the string and low synth which precedes "I can smell the chemicals" or the vocal doubling throughout.
The track establishes Dolby as a very able synthpop/new wave musician and composer, unafraid of a 'zany' and lighthearted style of composition. For this reviewer, this track remains a definitive track of the 1980's.
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