“The nascent synth-poppers probably didn’t know it yet, but they were waiting for a bit of kit called a Fairlight CMI, the first digital sampler. Not that they could have afforded one. In 1982, a Fairlight would set you back at least £18,000. It always makes me laugh when people say things like, ‘Back when £18,000 was a lot of money.’ It still is. Who’s going to turn their nose up at £18,000? The thing is that in 1982, £18,000 was an enormous amount of money – it would buy you a house.”