Peter Cooper (Vocals)
Craig Simmons (Synths, Vocals)
Influences
Pet Shop Boys, New Order, The Beloved, Erasure, OMD, Duran Duran, Scritti Politti, Depeche Mode, The Human League, ABC, Kraftwerk, Pulp, John Barry, David Arnold, James Bond
Sounds Like
Erasure, OMD, Pet Shop Boys, The Human League, New Order, Depeche Mode
ElectroSquad (Peter Cooper & Craig Simmons) released two dynamic pop albums - the synthpop classic "Espionage" and the soundtrack inspired "Operation: K".
"Espionage" began in concept and demo recordings in 1997. The album was completed the following year, although it wasn't released till 2000. Eight years after its completion, the album somehow seems more relevant and contemporary than it did at the time. Some have speculated that "Espionage" was eight years ahead of its time or perhaps, sixteen years behind - if you consider the homage it pays/plays to 1981!
At heart, "Espionage" was intended to take the best elements from classic electro-pop bands of the eighties: New Order, Erasure, Pet Shop Boys, OMD, Duran Duran, Scritti Politti, Depeche Mode, The Human League, ABC and Kraftwerk and wrap it all up in 007, 1960s spy style. It was after all, the renaissance of Bond with Austin Powers shagadelic aroma swingin' through the air. Even the music drifts that way at times - no more obvious, than with 'Too Young To Know' - lampooning free-love shag-pile shaggers everywhere! Perhaps the best kept pop-hit of all time, "Too Young To Know" could have been huge, but along with the rest of the poptastic album, it was - like track three - 'Lost In Time'.
'Envy' was the first single from the album and for which a video clip was made. Featuring a girl with a gun, lots of colour and movement and some splashes of early After-Effects animation, the clip's decidedly retro vibe seems to embody itself with a certain charm. You can see the video clip above.
"Espionage" is undoubtedly a classic synthpop album that cuts it with the very best of them from any era. If you like Erasure, OMD and The Human League, then you must have this CD in your collection!
ElectroSquad's second album "operation: k" takes the Bond influence from the visual to the musical, as well. There are references to the great film composer John Barry with his perculiar mix of 60s spy, romance, drama and chill flavours, within the overall framework of electronic Brit-pop. But it's not too obscure, there are some great pop songs here too - Kylie, Cowgirl In My Mind, Cowboy Hats, to name a few. (It would seem there's a bit of a Cowboy theme happening here too.)
"operation: k" was recorded throughout 2000 and released in March 2001. In addition to the analogue synths which defined "Espionage", you will hear guitars, orchestral string and horn sections, solo flutes and cellos, timpani drums, Mellotron and Hammond B3 keyboards, ethnic instruments like the Sitar, Santoor, Sarod, and other Dulicmers. The end result - quite a unique sound.
Fans of "operation: k" should also check out the self-titled Space March album which takes this idea into the indie-pop/rock world. And those that like "Espionage" should also check out the new Space March album "Without This You Can Never Change" which shares the same pop language.
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