Since synths seem to be part and parcel of this thread, I put forth Vince Clarke of Erasure. You should see the dedicated building in his yard full of gear. It is round and very fully packed. Everything appears to be working and patched up. Even the building is fascinating. It can be viewed in their Albert Hall DVD extras.
Vince can also be heard in early Depeche Mode (he was a founding member) and of course in Yazoo with Alison Moyet.
I am personally quite taken with the Novachord Restoration Project CD, Music Of The Electron. Played by Phil Cirocco, it is not programmed like so much synth music but rather played live on the fantastic polyphonic, all tube instrument. His style is completely suited to the Novachord. Available on the Cd Baby web site.
Clark