Republica
This crossover pop outfit began to take shape in London in 1994 when Tim Dorney (b. 30 March 1965, Ascot, England; keyboards, ex-Flowered Up), teamed up with engineer Andy Todd (keyboards/bass). They found Saffron (b. Samantha Sprackling, 3 June 1968, Nigeria; vocals) performing as part of the Prodigy's stage act and began creating a sound that gave club rhythms a radio-friendly, adult pop sheen. Adding drummer David Barbarossa (b. Mauritius; ex-Bow Wow Wow) and guitarist Johnny Male (b. 10 October 1963, Windsor, Berkshire, England; ex-Soul Family Sensation) did nothing to shake off the accusation that they were a crew of refugees from second-rate 80s pop acts, jumping onto the dance music bandwagon. However, the doubters reckoned without the more forgiving US market, which pounced upon the 1996 single "Ready To Go" and thus paved the way for the transatlantic encroachment of more purist UK dance acts such as the Prodigy and the Chemical Brothers. The single was eventually a bigger hit back in the UK but the media still could not forgive them for "bastardizing" dance music, being too old, having an attractive female singer and (most heinous of all) cracking the USA before they had "paid their dues" back home. The band, meanwhile, showed few signs of caring, releasing their debut album in 1997 and enjoying a UK Top 10 hit with "Drop Dead Gorgeous". Musical differences led to the departure of Todd the same year. Speed Ballads was recorded with the band's first permanent drummer, Pete Riley, with Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley handling the bulk of the production. While it contained trademark pop songs such as the debut single "From Rush Hour With Love" (UK number 20), the album also indicated a general maturing of the band's songwriting talents.
Listen to Republica
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Albums
- (1996) Republica
Top Tracks
- Ready to Go
- Drop Dead Gorgeous
- Bitch
- Out Of The Darkness
- Picture Me
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