Probably best remembered for their 1983 ‘disco-not-disco’ classic ‘Love Tempo’, Quando Quango released unique and influential records throughout the early eighties on Factory Records. The musical brain child of Mike Pickering and Hillegonda Rietveld, the band were formed in 1981 and quickly became one of label’s most revered and trailblazing bands.

With their abstract mix of disco, punk, new wave, world, jazz, reggae, they were dismissed by the UK music press for being too eclectic and weird. As with the yesterday’s SOTD, they first garnered attention from New York by none other than Larry Levan. The band was even invited to play at the Paradise Garage in 1983 (which they duly did but got a lukewarm reception).

In 1985, the band released their only album ‘Pigs & Battleships’ to some critical acclaim. With the tracks perfectly complimenting the forthcoming House explosion, as well as providing anthems for the Hacienda, for whom Pickering would later become synonymous with (we’ll gloss over the whole M People thing). The band’s influence across the board cannot be underestimated.

Anyway, ‘Genius’ is a mind-spinning party song. With Latino-flavoured percussion, upbeat pianos, as well as Fela Kuti-esque guitar flourishes, producer Mark Kamins harnesses the band’s distinctive sound and delivers a near-perfect, dreamy summer song.

Genius indeed.

Quando Quango – Genius

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