Dislocation Dance

Dislocation Dance can be seen as the unsung forebears of mid-'80s jazz-inflected acts such as Swing Out Sister and Matt Bianco; their influence can also be heard on Stereolab. Formed in the early '80s by Andy Diagram (trumpet, vocals), Ian Runacres (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Paul Emmerson (bass), and Richard Harrison (drums), Dislocation Dance stitched together a patchwork of minimalist new wave, '60s French pop, and jazz. The group's unassuming sound was warmly embraced by the indie crowd in the U.K., and they even appeared on Top of the Pops. In 1981, Dislocation Dance released their debut album, Music Music Music; in addition, they performed live for pioneering British DJ John Peel. When vocalist Kathryn Way joined Dislocation Dance, the band almost sounded like a distaff version of Liverpool's the Pale Fountains, a group Diagram was also a member of. After recording their second LP, 1984's Midnight Shift, Dislocation Dance disintegrated. Diagram eventually joined James; he also formed the Spaceheads. In 1999, Vinyl Japan released Dislocation Dance's BBC Sessions from 1981-1982. A year later, the label reissued Midnight Shift on CD with B-sides, remixes, and a cover of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out." Music Music Music was also finally released on CD. ~ Michael Sutton