Nomad
This UK act's press largely revolved around two facts. First their vocalist, Sharon Dee Clarke had played the role of a nurse in Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective. She was also filmed in the bed next to the character Michelle Fowler when the latter was giving birth in Eastenders. Secondly, their single, "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion", comprised samples from the British Poll Tax Riots and even transferred one of Margaret Thatcher's more rabid outbursts onto tape. The song, which reworked Ten City's US hit "Devotion", was also a huge success, reaching number 2 in the UK charts and becoming the biggest dance music single of 1991 in the process. It was co-written and produced by future Undercover producer Steve Mac. The other personnel in the band were rapper MC Mikee Freedom (b. Bristol, England) and Damon Rochefort (b. Cardiff, Wales). Freedom was discovered by former law student Rochefort while rapping on a song entitled "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" by Fresh Connection. Rochefort himself had worked with Clarke on the FPI Project's 1990 hit, "Going Back To My Roots". Unfortunately their debut album was thin on original songs, comprising three versions of "(I Wanna Give You) Devotion", while elsewhere formulaic Euro dance pop held sway. Though the follow-up single, "Just A Groove", made the Top 20, subsequent efforts ("Something Special" - originally recorded by Clarke solo for a compilation album, "Your Love Is Lifting Me" and "24 Hours A Day") failed to replicate their original success. Rochefort also embarked on a side project, Serious Rope, again featuring Clarke, who scored a 1993 hit with "Happiness", recorded as a tribute to the Flesh club in Manchester. Freedom would go on to a solo career with TEK, beginning with "Set You Free' for Dave Pearce's Reachin" label.
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Top Tracks
- Hamar Girl
- Heart Of Ethiopia
- With You
- Lahu
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