’80s Flashback: The return of Yazoo

Vince Clark and Alison Moyet, back in the day (Credit: Mute)

You might not realize it, but chances are good that Vince Clark has made you dance. A founding member of Depeche Mode and the mastermind behind more body-rocking hits than most realize, he left the then-fledgling synth-pop superstars to form a more manageable outfit, Yazoo (known in America as Yaz due to a copyright dispute).

Clark teamed up with powerhouse vocalist Alison Moyet, and the duo cemented their legend upon release of Yazoo’s debut single, the tender ballad “Only You.” That hit was backed with the timeless dance-floor scorcher “Situation” (which was recently remixed by buzz dance band of the moment Hercules and Love Affair). Combining Clark’s perky analog beats with Moyet’s soulful wail, Yazoo went on to record two instant-classic albums—“Upstairs at Eric’s” in 1982 and the more melancholy “You and Me Both” in 1983—dropping such singles as “Don’t Go” and “Nobody’s Diary.”

While Clark disbanded Yazoo to eventually start Erasure with Andy Bell (whose voice is eerily similar to Moyet's), Yazoo’s indelible mark had already been made. Their songs continue to be remixed and interpolated in modern music, as well as being used in a multitude of movies and commercials. (“Only You” has been featured most memorably during “Napolean Dynamite” and the closing scene of “Can’t Hardly Wait.”)

While driving dance rhythms with soaring R&B vocals may seem commonplace today, Yazoo deserve credit for juxtaposing the original disco spirit with the DIY energy of the early ’80s to create the template. Amid the slew of bombastic musical reunions, the quiet return of these plugged-in pioneers is easily among the most welcome.

Yaz will have you dancing in the aisles of the Orpheum in Downtown L.A. on July 8, 10 and 11

Scott T. Sterling is Music editor for Metromix Los Angeles.