DATA (band)
Encyclopedia
DATA were an electronic music band created in the late 1970s by Georg Kajanus
, creator of such bands as Eclection
, Sailor
and Noir (with Tim Dry of the robotic/music duo Tik and Tok
). After the break-up of Sailor in the late Seventies
, Kajanus decided to experiment with electronic music
and formed DATA, together with vocalists Francesca ("Frankie") and Phillipa ("Phil") Boulter, daughters of British singer John Boulter
.
The classically orientated title track of DATA’s first album, Opera Electronica, was used as the theme music to the short film, Towers of Babel (1981), which was directed by Jonathan Lewis and starred Anna Quayle
and Ken Campbell
. Towers of Babel was nominated for a BAFTA award in 1982 and won the Silver Hugo Award for Best Short Film at the Chicago International Film Festival
of the same year.
DATA released two more albums, the experimental 2-Time (1983) and the Country & Western
-inspired electronica album Elegant Machinery (1985). The title of the last album was the inspiration for the name of Swedish pop synth group , elegant MACHINERY
, formerly known as Pole Position.
In 1995, Accumulator was released, a compilation album containing the complete albums 2-Time and Elegant Machinery, and the track "Fallout" from Opera Electronica.
Georg Kajanus
Georg Kajanus is a Norwegian composer and pop musician, best known as the lead singer and songwriter of the British pop group, Sailor.-Early years:...
, creator of such bands as Eclection
Eclection
Eclection were a British-based folk rock band, originally formed in 1967 in London by Norwegian-born Georg Kajanus , Canadian Michael Rosen, Australians Trevor Lucas and Kerrilee Male, and Britisher Gerry Conway...
, Sailor
Sailor (band)
Sailor are a British pop group, best known in the 1970s for their hit singles "Glass of Champagne" and "Girls Girls Girls", written by the group's lead singer and 12-string guitar player, Georg Kajanus.-In the 1970s:...
and Noir (with Tim Dry of the robotic/music duo Tik and Tok
Tik and Tok
Tik and Tok are the robotic mime and music duo of Tim Dry and Sean Crawford. They began performing together with SHOCK: a rock/mime/burlesque/music troupe in the early 1980s with Barbie Wilde, Robert Pereno, L.A. Richards and Carole Caplin....
). After the break-up of Sailor in the late Seventies
1970s
File:1970s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: US President Richard Nixon doing the V for Victory sign after his resignation from office after the Watergate scandal in 1974; Refugees aboard a US naval boat after the Fall of Saigon, leading to the end of the Vietnam War in 1975; The 1973 oil...
, Kajanus decided to experiment with electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
and formed DATA, together with vocalists Francesca ("Frankie") and Phillipa ("Phil") Boulter, daughters of British singer John Boulter
John Boulter
John Boulter is a British tenor best known for his appearances as a soloist in the BBC's long-running variety series The Black and White Minstrel Show...
.
The classically orientated title track of DATA’s first album, Opera Electronica, was used as the theme music to the short film, Towers of Babel (1981), which was directed by Jonathan Lewis and starred Anna Quayle
Anna Quayle
Anna Quayle is an English actress. Her father was the stage actor Douglas Quayle.She has appeared on film, on stage, and on television...
and Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell
Ken Campbell was an English writer, actor, director and comedian.Ken Campbell may also refer to:* Ken Campbell , Canadian evangelist* Ken Campbell , former Scotland international goalkeeper...
. Towers of Babel was nominated for a BAFTA award in 1982 and won the Silver Hugo Award for Best Short Film at the Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America....
of the same year.
DATA released two more albums, the experimental 2-Time (1983) and the Country & Western
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
-inspired electronica album Elegant Machinery (1985). The title of the last album was the inspiration for the name of Swedish pop synth group , elegant MACHINERY
Elegant Machinery
Elegant Machinery is a Swedish synthpop band. Borrowing heavily from the likes of Depeche Mode, they are one of few recent bands dedicated to making traditional synthpop music...
, formerly known as Pole Position.
In 1995, Accumulator was released, a compilation album containing the complete albums 2-Time and Elegant Machinery, and the track "Fallout" from Opera Electronica.
Studio albums
- Opera Electronica (1981)
- 2-Time (1983)
- Elegant Machinery (1985)
- Accumulator (1995, compilation album)
Singles
- "Fever of Love" b/w "Talk" (1980)
- "Fallout" b/w "Politics" (1980)
- "Cuckooland" b/w "Talk" (1981)
- "Star" b/w "Talk" (1981)
- "Living inside Me" b/w "A-O (No Bungalow)", "Data Plata" (1983)
- "Stop" b/w "Blow" (1985)
- "Ricocheted Love" b/w "In Blue" (1985)
- "Blow" (1986)