Data (2)

Blending Italo-disco, Giorgio Moroder, ABBA and Telex influences, Data befriended synthetic experimentation with melodic pop sensibility to great effect.

From their approach it was obvious they were enjoying it and having fun - at the same time there's an edgy side to it, complemented by subversive, stripped-down synthdrums, while on the other hand there's an air of sing-along cheesiness, but luckily this doesn't spoil the overall "feel good" effect. When I first heard some of their music, I was nowhere near impressed but the magic of Data remains in the fact once you're exposed they're easily creeping up from underneath the skin and stay there for occasional, pleasant goosebumps.

While some songs meet with a sense of embarrassment to listen to or may seem like "one hit wonder" attempts (for example "Stop" from their later album "Elegant Machinery" with cheap synthetic horn and vocal arrangements), the cool factor of most Data songs makes sure these grow on you and won't let go in the end.

The highlights are of course the entire first two albums, accompanied with a selection of non-album singles being released at the time (the excellent "Fallout" and the entertaining "Fever Of Love"). The conceptual 1981 LP "Opera Electronica" and 1983's "2-Time", both marry philharmony with the dancefloor party. Once you put "Left/Right/Centre", "Fallout", "Physical Asylum", "Living Inside Me", "Cool Passion", "Musique Electronique" or "Plastic Money" on the turntable, you bet many will shake their body to the beat that still makes these tracks sound fresh and well advanced, despite the fact they're actually written three decades ago.