The Synthesizer 100 (Edition 2025)

Many, many moons ago, I spent my weekends at two local (and free) radio stations. What began as helping out with record selections during a song request show eventually led to hosting my own two-hour radio program. The music I played during those two hours was mostly New Wave and Synth-based, with the occasional Pop Classic thrown in—ranging from the '60s to the '90s. Every year during the holiday season, I would compile a special Synthesizer Top 100, which—with the help of my colleagues—was broadcast in full, spread across several hours. Now, in 2025, I thought it would be fun to create a brand-new Synthesizer Top 100. I should note that this list is entirely based on my personal taste—no charts, no algorithms. Naturally, the more influential tracks tend to rank higher, but it’s all from the heart. You’ll find a wide range of genres represented here: from Krautrock and Electronica to New Wave, New Age, and even a touch of Dance. Most of the tracks are instrumental; some feature minimal vocals or processed voices—but in all of them, the synthesizer, in its many expressive forms, takes center stage as the true storyteller. So, without further ado...

The Synthesizer 100 edition 2025 

100: Frank Fischer - Over The Canyon (1991)

99: Depeche Mode - Nothing To Fear (1982)

98: Future World Orchestra - Roulette (1983)

97: Harold Faltermeyer - Adrianos (Beverly Hills Cop II) (1987)

96: Laserdance - Cosmo Tron (1989)

95: Mark Isham - Cars And Helicopters (The Hitcher) (1991)

94: Medwyn Goodall - Ansiedad (1997)

93: Keith Forsey - Love Theme (The Breakfast Club) (1985)

92: The Peppers - Double Signature (1974)

91: Rob Papen - DayDreamer (2004)

90: Tastenklang - Funny Beats (2013)

89: Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind The Mask (1980)

88: André Brasseur - Big Fat Spiritual (1969)

87: The Art Of Noise - Camilla (1986)

86: Clannad - Child Of The Sea (1989)

85: René Roussel - Caramel (1980)

84: Cusco - Catalina (1989)

83: Michael Bundt - La Chasse Aux Microbes (1977)

82: Ed Starink - Overture (1991)

81: Ashra - Sunrain (1976)

80: Joerg Strawe - Sequenzen Ohne Grenzen (1994)

79: Caught In Joy - Nebula Drifter (2024)

78: Eric Serra - The Big Blue Overture (1988)

77: The Light Dreams – Awakening (2014)

76: Yello - Hawaiian Chance (1987)

75: Brad Fiedel - The Terminator Main Title (1984)

74: Tubeway Army - I Nearly Married A Human (1979)

73: Hans Zimmer - Leaving Wallbrook / On The Road (Rain Man) (1989)

72: Yvan Guilini - Long Time Ago (1986)

71: Kano - Ikeya Seki (1983)

70: Russell B - Mountain Dust (1994)

69: Peru - Winter In Main (1995)

68: John Carpenter - Show Me (Christine) (1983)

67: The Korgis - Rovers Return (1980)

66: The Dream Academy - Power To Believe (1988)

65: Johnny Voorbogt - Sky Part II (1989)

64: Madis - Cracow Sunset (2020)

63: Loom - Polaroids from Anywhere (2014)

62: Kebu - Michael’s Anthem (2012)

61: Kitaro - Caravansary (1983)

60: Ron Boots - Rohirrim (1995)

59: Gérard Gesina - Big Green « Espace » (1981)

58: Klaus Doldinger - Timesignature (1983)

57: Delia Derbyshire - Doctor Who (The Original Theme) (1963)

56: Toto ft. Brian Eno - Dune (Desert Theme) (1984)

55: Dan Lacksman Association - Coconut (1972)

54: Picture Palace music - Array Of Fadin' Flowers (2008)

53: Whaveshape - Chromosphaere (1994)

52: Didier Marouani - Temps X (1979)

51: Sylvester Levay - Skyline (Cobra) (1986)

50: Christopher Franke - Mountain Heights (1991)

49: The Droids - Do You Have The Force Pt.1 (1978)

48: Jean-Jacques Perrey - E.V.A. (1970)

47: Angelo Badalamenti - Laura Palmer’s Theme (1990)

46: Michael Rother - Karussell (1977)

45: Koto - Visitors (1985)

44: Serge Perathoner - Ushuaïa (1989)

43: Jan Hammer - Payback (1989)

42: Guru Josh - Infinity (1990)

41: David Wright - Ocean Watch (1993)

40: Enya - March Of The Celts (1986)

39: New Order - Elegia (1985)

38: Software - Add-Space-To-Time (1985)

37: Harry Thumann - Underwater (1979)

36: Neu! - Isi  (1975)

35: Code Indigo - For Whom The Bell / Code 14 (1996)

34: Elektronische Musik Aus: Koeln - Filmmusik (1982)

33: Simple Minds - Theme For Great Cities (1981)

32: Rolf Trostel - Der Prophet (1982)

31: Pierre Henri & Michel Colombier - Psyché Rock (1968)

30: Robert Miles - Children (1995)

29: Peru - Africa (1983)

28: La Düsseldorf - Rheinita (1978)

27: Wendy Carlos & Rachel Elkind - Main Title "The Shining" (1980)

26: Conrad Schnitzler - Ballet Statique (1978)

25: Jean-Michel Jarre - Zoolookologie (1984)

24: Isao Tomita - "Star Wars" Main Title (Kosmos) (1978)

23: The Alan Parsons Project - Lucifer (1979)

22: Vangelis - Elsewhere (1988)

21: Space - Just Blue (1978)

20: Klaus Schulze - Synthasy (1980)

19: The Art Of Noise - Moments In Love (1985)

18: Tangerine Dream - Love On A Real Train (Risky Business) (1984)

17: Jeff Wayne - The Eve Of The War (1978)

16: Mario Mathy - Liberty (1986)

15: The Alan Parsons Project – Mammagamma (1982)

14: Michael Garrison - Motion Fascination (1981)

13: Vangelis – Titles (Chariots Of Fire) (1981)

12: Giorgio Moroder - Chase (Midnight Express) (1978)

11: Pink Floyd - On The Run (1973)

10: Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (1984)

9: Alain Pierre - Jan Zonder Vrees Theme (1984)

8: Jan Hammer - Crockett’s Theme (1986)

7: Nova - Aurora (1981)

6: Gershon Kingsley - Pop Corn (1969)

5: Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells (1973)

4: Tangerine Dream - Force Majeure (1979)

3: Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygène (Part IV) (1976)

2: Vangelis - To The Unknown Man (1977)

1: Kraftwerk - Autobahn (1974)

#synthmusic #newwave #krautrock #berlinschool #electronica #synthpop #synthwave