When the Smiths and New Order collided, they tried to remain anonymous dance pioneers.
In short: In 1988, Bernard Sumner and Johnny Marr formed Electronic to escape their massive reputations. They initially planned to release anonymous white label records, inspired by Italo house. Instead, they became a commercial powerhouse, blending synthesizers and guitars to define a new era of alternative dance music in the nineties.
The partnership began when Sumner, frustrated by New Order's resistance to his synth-heavy ideas, sought a collaborator for a solo project. He turned to Marr, who he had met in 1984 while producing a track for the group Quando Quango. Their debut single, "Getting Away with It," released in December 1989, defied their initial desire for anonymity by selling approximately 350,000 copies and becoming a Top 40 hit in America. This success shifted their trajectory toward a more commercial sound that fused analogue technology with alternative rock.
Their self-titled debut album, released in 1991, achieved global commercial success with over a million copies sold. It featured collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys and established a pattern of inviting prominent DJs to remix their work. However, the duo's creative process was often interrupted by their commitments to other bands, including The The and New Order. By the time they recorded their second album, "Raise the Pressure" in 1996, they had recruited former Kraftwerk member Karl Bartos to join the core duo.
The band's final phase saw a shift toward a more conventional four-piece lineup with the addition of bassist Jimi Goodwin and drummer Ged Lynch for the 1999 album "Twisted Tenderness." While this record earned critical praise, it did not reach the commercial heights of their early work. Although neither Sumner nor Marr ever formally announced a dissolution of the group, Marr acknowledged in 2003 that the project had reached its natural conclusion. Despite the lack of a final farewell, the pair has occasionally reunited for charity performances, marking the end of a unique collaboration that bridged the gap between indie rock and the dance floor.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Electronic (band)
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