Quando Quango

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Quando Quango

Origin	The Netherlands and England
Years active	1981–1986
Genres	New wave dance
Labels	Factory Records
Members	Mike Pickering (Vocals) Hillegonda Rietveld (Programming) Simon Topping (Percussion) Barry Johnson (Bass)

Quando Quango was a Manchester, England based new wave dance project formed by The Haçienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillegonda Rietveld and Reinier Rietveld. Their unique sound influenced the underground dance music scenes in New York and Chicago in the 1980s. [1] Their first release was the "Go Exciting" twelve-inch single on Factory Records in 1982, and their last release of new music was the 1985 full-length album Pigs & Battleships (reissued in 2003).

1 Music
2 History
3 Discography
- 3.1 Full-length Albums
- 3.2 UK Singles
4 External links

[edit] Music

Quando Quango is best known for its dance singles "Love Tempo," which reached number four on the Billboard Dance Chart, and "Atom Rock." Their sound was the result of an eclectic mix of Latin, jazz, reggae and disco, all in a New Wave context. Hillegonda Rietveld said, describing the group's music, "...Fela Kuti meets Kraftwerk somewhere between Manchester and Rotterdam, part of a new wave of post-punk electronica, with a whole lot of Mike Pickering's admirably broad knowledge of soul, disco, reggae and pop to stuff the gaps." [2] [3]

Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order, who produced early Quando Quango recordings, was a major influence on the group.

[edit] History

The group was formed in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 1980 by Mancunian Mike Pickering and Rotterdam-based Hillegonda Rietveld, supported on drums by her brother Reinier Rietveld. In 1982 they moved to Manchester, England, where Pickering's friend Rob Gretton was setting up The Haçienda nightclub. [4]

In 1983 Reinier Rietveld left the group to concentrate on his Rotterdam band Spasmodique. Soon after, former A Certain Ratio drummer Simon Topping joined as percussionist. Hillegonda Rietveld settled into her role programming their electronic music and Pickering continued to write lyrics and melodies.

The same year, Derek Johnson of fellow Factory act 52nd Street joined on bass, soon to be replaced by his brother Barry Johnson, formerly of Sweet Sensation, and later of Aswad.

After releasing a few singles that were minor dance club hits, the group collaborated with Manchester music legends Johnny Marr and Vini Reilly to create full-length album Pigs & Battleships. Andy Connell of A Certain Ratio and Beverley McDonald of 52nd Street also contributed.

The group didn't last long after the album's release, but before their collapse they recorded more material with prominent guests. Lisa Stansfield sang on demos of "Bad Blood" and "Vision of America" in 1986. Stephen Morris of Joy Division and New Order contributed percussion to "What Price Beauty," which later became M People track "Kiss It Better."

After the group's demise, Pickering went on to form dance duo T-Coy with Topping and, later, M People. Hillegonda Rietveld later became a DJ and "academic specialist in dance culture and music." Her connection with the Haçienda continued when she researched and co-edited the book "Fac 51 The Haçienda Must Be Built" which was edited by Jon Savage. She also wrote "This Is Our House: House Music, Cultural Spaces and Technologies." She completed her PhD on house music in 1995 and is currently Senior Lecturer in Arts and Media at South Bank University.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Full-length Albums

Pigs & Battleships, (1985) Factory FACT110

Pigs & Battleships Label: Factory Records Catalog #: FACT 110 Year: 1985 Tracks: 1) Genius 2) Go Exciting 3) Happy Boy 4) Rebel 5) This Feeling 6) S.T. 7) 40 Dreams 8) Low Rider 9) Love Tempo (Remix)

2003 reissue bonus tracks: 10) Atom Rock (Remix) 11) Triangle 12) Tingle 13) Go Exciting (Original Mix)