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Reviewer: Iluvthe80s

Formed in 1983, UK-based pop experimentalists Art Of Noise were the first artists to be signed to Trevor Horn's ZTT Records. The nucleus of the group was Horn, Anne Dudley (keyboard, arrangements), J.J. Jeczalik (keyboards, production) and Gary Langan (various instruments, production), with input from rock writer Paul Morley. Dudley had already achieved considerable experience arranging for a number of artists, including ABC, Frankie Goes To Hollywood and Paul McCartney. The band achieved early success as dancefloor favourites in America with the inventive Into Battle With The Art Of Noise EP. At the end of 1984, the ensemble registered a Top 10 UK hit with "Close (To The Edit)", an inspired mix of hip-hop rhythms and vocal effects. The following year Dudley, Jeczalik and Langan fell out with ZTT over their marketing strategies and moved to the independent label China Records. Thereafter, their career consisted chiefly of work with other artists. A revival of "Peter Gunn", with Duane Eddy, hit the UK Top 10 and this was followed by a collaboration with television's cartoon-animated character Max Headroom on "Paranoimia". Their finest and most bizarre backing role, however, was reserved for Tom Jones who made a Top 10 comeback courtesy of an amusing bump and grind version of Prince's "Kiss". Having enjoyed several years of quirky chart success, Art Of Noise split in 1990, with Dudley going on to work with Phil Collins and Killing Joke's Jaz Coleman. Several remix collections have since been released, illustrating the band's (over-hyped) influence on dance music. Morley, Dudley and Horn re-formed the band in the late 90s, with the addition of the experienced Lol Creme, to work on the ambient concept album The Seduction Of Claude Debussy.

*Courtesy sonicnet.com