It would be easy to underestimate the influence of Yazoo: only two albums and a handful of singles before they went their separate ways. Like all great bands, Yazoo was a combination of individually brilliant musicians. The juxtaposition of Moyet's powerhouse bluesy voice with Clarke's minimal yet funky electronics was a kind of proto-house music but a good three years before Detroit and Chicago took to the dancefloor.
However, it's simply great songwriting that underpins the Yazoo sound - 'Only You' being the best example - an instant classic when in was released in 1982. Personally, I love the soaring, exuberant pop of tracks such as 'Don't Go' and 'Situation' as well as the brooding melancholy of 'Midnight' or 'Ode To Boy'. If, like me, you're a fan of electronic and dance music, listen to Yazoo and you'll appreciate their influence on plethora of artists and producers who followed - right up to the present day. This is a sound investment for any self-respecting music fan. Even if you've got the original vinyl releases.