ZTT's five most important acts

1. The Art of Noise

There's something of a reappraisal afoot of ZTT's most central act, from pretentious provacateurs to truly innovative pop act. The label's backbone of producer Trevor Horn and propagandist Paul Morley was joined by arranger Anne Dudley, engineer Gary Langan and producer JJ Jeczalik to create an unorthodox sampled sound, reminiscent of Horn's quote reused as a Pet Shop Boys lyric, 'Che Guevara and Debussy to a disco beat'. Single Close (To the Edit), from 1984, is the archetype of their blend of English pastoral and violent cut up ('To be in England in the summertime with my love' set to the sound of a car starting).

2. Propaganda

Morley described this Düsseldorf quartet's second single, Duel as 'Abba in heaven', its flipside, Jewel, 'Abba in hell'. Propaganda were pretty much the perfect pop group, bequeathing us one album before going up in flames. A Secret Wish (1985) was Fritz Lang via Colin Wilson and featured additional talents David Sylvian and Glenn Gregory, marshalled by Stephen Lipson, presumably within earshot of Horn. Band member Michael Mertens continued under the name with vocalist Betsi Miller and Simple Minds' former rhythm section for a second album, while lead singer Claudia Brücken formed Act, also on ZTT.

3. Hoodlum Priest

ZTT head honcho Horn was said to have spat out his tea the first time he heard Derek Thompson's incendiary mix of industrial music and rap, served in a rich layer of sci-fi film samples. The sleeve to album The Heart of Darkness (1990) references photographer George Hoyningen-Huene, while track titles namecheck Rock Drill and Tyrell. It's dark, troublingly sexy and very subversive.

4. 808 State

Britain's most important dance act? The Manchester band's debut on ZTT, 808:90, is a classic; on the back of it, and single The Only Rhyme that Bites, the band launched a successful club tour. Follow-up Ex:El (1991) cemented their reputation, featuring guest appearances from Bernard Sumner and Björk, who was still in The Sugarcubes. Collaboration has followed collaboration, with appearances from James Dean Bradfield and Louise Rhodes.

5. Frankie Goes To Hollywood

By rights, FGTH should be the top of this list, but then I'd have to include Seal, Trevor Horn's protegé who's gone from one-time club superstar to MOR stalwart. Frankie provided many of ZTT's biggest moments, from the furore over Relax, through Two Tribes to Welcome to the Pleasuredome (all on the 1984 album of that name). Amid arguments over preferential treatment at the label and groupmembers' artistic involvement, the Liverpudlian band were packed off to conjure a second album. I have a soft spot for the pop bombast Warriors of the Wasteland, and connoisseurs enjoy Rage Hard (The Young Person's Guide to the 12" Mix), included on new compilation, The Art of the 12".

Yelle peril

This year may be the first time English-speaking music fans hear of French trio Yelle (pictured), whose bonkers Safari Club Disco single is out now. An Alizée-Pink cross, they're supporting Katy Perry in 2011 and an album is due in March, when they're playing London.

They also appear on Nouvelle Vague's latest alongside Coralie Clément and Camille, among others. Couleurs sur Paris is not available in the UK, presumably because the 1980s cover artists have taken on French favourites. I'm keen to hear Vanessa Paradis' version of Etienne Daho's Week-end à Rome, the song that became He's On the Phone with St Etienne.

Nouvelle Vague previously painted Heaven 17's Let Me Go with their bossa shtick on the Bande à part album (2006); it's a song Yelle returned to for Ce jeu on 2007's Pop Up album, seemingly borrowing the original's backing wholesale. A couple more unexpected versions of some other great '80s songs I may as well mention here: Sophie Ellis-Bextor tackling Propaganda's biggest moment, Duel, and Tracey Thorn on Pet Shop Boys' King's Cross (Hot Chip Remix).