Thompson Twins

Sagaciously eschewing their agit-prop anarcho-syndicate roots, The Twins ditched the Rag, Tag and Bobtail squat chic (as well as 4 core members) and transformed, almost overnight, in the finest proponents of perfect, paperweight pop of the 1980's. Starting with the proto-house lite "In The Name Of Love" and "Love On Your Side", the Twins struck gold with the quirky, affable danceable pop sensibilities of the "Quick Step And Side Kick" album. The trio established a co-op rational to their workload (music/lyrics/visuals) and through sheer hard work, brio and a modicum of pop genius, struck the motherlode with the worldwide smash album, "Into The Gap". Spawning hit single after hit single (including, arguably, the finest 12" Mix of the 1980's with the High Plains Drifter Mix of "You Take Me Up") the Twins conquered the world. However, the pressure of producing damn fine pop records proved to be an onerous burden and Tom Bailey collapsed with exhaustion. This meant that the follow-up album "Here's To Future Days" was left in the hands of Nile Rodgers and a seminal pop masterpiece became an over-amitious curate's egg. Subsequent albums failed to capture the mood and success of their earlier counterparts and the Twins quietly fell apart. Joe Leeway transferred to California and Tom & Alannah returned to her native New Zealand to raise their family and recharge their batteries. Reforming, with Keith Fernley, as Babble, Tom & Alannah resurfaced as Babble, producing two wonderful ambient/world albums that truly are works of beauty (Ether and The Stone). As with the latter end of their Twins career, success was not forthcoming despite critical acclaim. The partnership finally dissolved - businesswise and personally - and Tom & Alannah retuned to the UK in 2003 to divide the matrimonial assets. Twenty years on, it is clear on reflection that the Thompson Twins were one of the finest bands of the decade in terms of pop music. Their legacy can be heard in the music of today and we should all cherish their finer moments which rank alongside anything from the lastquarter of a century.