It was 1980 when Steve Mecca (bass) and Terry Kennedy (lead vocals and keyboards) played their electronic-pop experiments under the Sound FX moniker. In 1981 the duo changed name giving birth to Chemistry Set and started their history that lasted six years. Mike Reaves joined them at the synths in late 1981 and left in 1984; he helped Steve and Terry to create their own brand of New Wave synthpop and theatrics. "Experiments From The Lab" collects eleven tracks from the 1981-87 period plus two "new" versions of "I Am Vapour" and "Iron Curtain" they recorded in 2015 and 2014 respectively. The CD opens with the same songs but in their 1981 and 1982 recordings: I really dug these two as they sound pop but also experimental, melodically speaking, and "Iron Curtain" made me think of The Passage, a Manchester postpunk, active between 1978 and 1983 which had a similar oblique approach to melody. "Chemistry" plus the following "King's Gambit", with their upbeat synthpop sound, are making me think of Robert Marlow (he recorded four singles in the early 80s for Vince Clarke's Reset Records) with their bright electronic sound so rooted in melody. The latter was also featured on WHDA's New Jersey Rock IV vinyl album and a 16mm film/music video appeared on MTV and cable channels, 1984-85. The band's theatrical approach finds its top on the middle-oriental sounding "Bazaar Of The Bizarre", where sensual chanting and souk-like sounds give life to a really nice tune. If "Hot Spot" is a bit like "Bazaar Of The Bizarre", starting with "Ins & Outs Of Love" the sound changes: I think that the following songs could have been recorded in 1985/87 due to their lushes sounds and electronic soul/MTV pop influences that bring us the first love ballad "Two Of A Kind". Also "Love Reaction" and "Gimme Sum Slack" are following the same path and they aren't properly my cup of tea. The aforementioned 2015 and 2014 versions of "I Am Vapour" and "Iron Curtain" with their updated sound are nice but I like most the raw energy of the original ones. I appreciated the melody rewriting on "Iron Curtain" but the 1982 version was more particular and immediate/catchy.