Dropping right in the thick of 1984, 'Welcome to the pleasuredome' was the debut album that cemented Frankie Goes to Hollywood as a massive cultural phenomenon. Following the colossal, controversial success of their singles 'Relax' and 'Two tribes', the band delivered this sprawling double LP to an audience that was already completely hooked. It arrived with an unbelievable amount of hype - boasting advance sales of over a million copies in the UK alone - and instantly captured the flamboyant, hedonistic mood of the mid-80s.

Sonically, the album is an absolute masterclass in maximalist pop, driven heavily by the genius of producer Trevor Horn. He didn't just record a band; he built a cinematic universe of sound around them. You'll hear an intoxicating mix of pulsating synth-pop, hi-NRG dance beats, and sweeping orchestral flourishes that feel incredibly larger than life. The record even weaves in some completely unexpected cover versions - including a bizarrely brilliant take on Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to run' and a glossy rendition of 'San Jose (the way)' - which just adds to the wonderfully chaotic, anything-goes atmosphere.

Today, it remains an endlessly entertaining listen because it absolutely refuses to take itself too seriously while still delivering top-tier pop craftsmanship. Standout moments like the thunderous 13-minute title track and the gorgeously dramatic ballad 'The power of love' prove that beneath all the controversy and excess, there was real substance. If you want to revitalise your playlist and experience the pure, unadulterated sound of 1980s pop operating at maximum capacity, this album is a spectacular joyride that still holds up brilliantly.