There is something extraordinary about music that outruns its own era.
When music critic Randall Radic (“The Professor”) recently reviewed Master Plan’s Demo ’85 for The Riff on Medium in his article “Electric Dreams from Chicago’s Underground,” he captured the exact essence of what made this music so special:
“On ‘Demo ’85,’ Master Plan’s hypnotic blend of house, psychedelic disco, and synth-pop remains exhilaratingly ahead of its time.”
With Demo ’85 officially available on the Wake Up Music Group site, this review isn’t just a look back at history—it’s a celebration of a living, breathing creative moment that continues to inspire.
Before the Genres Had Names
In 1985, Chicago’s underground sound wasn’t categorized into tidy streaming playlists. It was an explosion of raw energy, late-night studio experimentation, and unbridled passion.
Master Plan—formed by vocalist and lyricist Pepper Gomez alongside composer Tom O’Callaghan—was at the epicenter of this fusion. Combining Pepper’s background in classical voice, jazz improvisation, poetry, and sitar with Tom’s synth arrangements, they created something that felt human, electric, and entirely unique.
Looking back at the archival lyric sheets, hand-designed costumes, and studio session notes from 1984–1985, you see the DIY heart of the movement:
- “Andrew”: A futuristic, playful track exploring affection, rhythms, and early tech culture.
- “Making Movies”: A sharp, theatrical reflection on glamour, performance, and behind-the-scenes hustle.
- “Daydream” & “Fanning the Flames”: High-energy anthems driven by emotion, persistent rhythms, and vocal power.
- “Electric Baile” & “Pushin’ Too Hard”: Groundbreaking tracks that merged Spanish-language vocals, Latin percussion, and synth-funk directly into the club bloodstream.
A Human Connection to Chicago’s Music History
For Pepper Gomez, releasing Demo ’85 through Wake Up Music LLC isn’t about claiming a title or arguing over who started what in house music. It’s about sharing the authentic, personal story of being in the room when the sparks flew.
It’s about remembering:
- Hand-constructing costumes and designing makeup concepts with Chicago’s Studio Sew-Sew for early photo shoots.
- Testing raw synth loops on late-night studio monitors at Streeterville Recording Studios.
- Feeling the energy of dance floors in Chicago, Miami, and New York as tracks like “Electric Baile” began taking over club sound systems.
Why Demo ’85 Matters Right Now
Music fans today are digging deeper into authentic underground sounds than ever before. Demo ’85 isn’t a dusty artifact—it’s the foundational DNA of what Pepper Gomez built, leading directly to her work today as the founder of Wake Up Music Group.
As Randall Radic noted, these recordings still sound fresh because they were built on real passion, artist independence, and uninhibited creativity.
Stream & Explore Demo ’85
Experience the original recordings, read the lyric archives, and step back into the electric atmosphere of 1985 Chicago.
👉 Listen to Demo ’85 on Wake Up Music Group (Link to your release page)
📖 Read Randall Radic’s full review on Medium / The Riff
