Re-Flex

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Re-Flex were a British New Wave/synthpop band active from 1981 to 1985. They are most well known for their hit single "The Politics of Dancing", but are often recognized as a one-hit wonder.

Biography

Formation and The Politics of Dancing (1981-1984)

Re-Flex formed in 1981 with John Baxter on vocals and guitar, Paul Fishman on keyboards and backing vocals, ex-Gloria Mundi member Nigel Ross-Scott on bass, and Roland Kerridge on drums.

Recorded in late 1982, the band released their debut and to date only album, The Politics of Dancing, in 1983 through EMI. The album, produced by John Punter of Roxy Music fame,^[1] was a moderate success, charting at #53 in the United States, #23 in the United Kingdom, and #58. It was re-released by One Way Records in 1993 on CD.

The album's title track, released later that year, was met with much greater success. It reached #24 in the United States in the beginning of 1984 and established Re-Flex as one of the first British bands to achieve a number one single in the U.S. dance chart^{[citation needed]} and to establish themselves on MTV. At the same time, the song was also a big international hit; It reached #28^[2] in the UK (with a chart run of 9 weeks), #9 in Canada (with a chart run of 9 weeks in the Canadian Top 30), #25 in West Germany, and was also a success in Switzerland, South Africa, Israel, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy and Australia. The band released five other singles off the album with minor chart success in the U.S. and UK, but lack of further chart activity leaves the band labelled as a one-hit wonder.

The band toured the UK, Europe and the U.S., where on their first visit they supported The Police who at the time were at their most successful point in their career with their biggest hit, "Every Breath You Take".

"The Politics of Dancing" was featured in the 1985 film, Red, and the 1998 film, Edge of Seventeen. Re-Flex recorded the song "Cut It" for the soundtrack to the 1984 film Breakin' which was released by Polydor Records.

	Re-Flex - "The Politics Of Dancing" excerpt An excerpt from "The Politics Of Dancing"
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Humanication and breakup (1984-1985)

Recorded in late 1984 and planned for a release in February 1985, Humanication was supposed to be Re-Flex's follow-up album. The album's style is similar to The Politics of Dancing, but used improved keyboard technology. The only single released from the album, "How Much Longer", on the topic of environmentalism, featured Sting on backing vocals. It was a minor hit in West Germany where it charted at #59, but had little success elsewhere. Re-Flex disbanded later that year.

Demo versions of the album were leaked out and currently circulate among techno, synthpop, New Wave, and Re-Flex enthusiasts. The band's keyboardist, Paul Fishman, released the album unofficially in Canada during 2002 after transferring tracks to CD. The CDs have simple black and white paper inserts with the Re-Flex logo across the top, the Parlophone / Capitol / EMI logos shown at the bottom, and "copyright 1985 EMI Records" on the bottom left corner. The recordings were sent out to radio stations and reviewers in anticipation of a February 1985 release.

The band also released two tracks, "Life's Too Dangerous" and "Revolution Now", for the soundtrack to the 1987 film, Superman IV.

Back catalogue

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Jambo Music, a division of JHP, who publish and administer Re-Flex's catalogue of songs, intend to re-release The Politics of Dancing and release Humanication albums. In addition, other previously unavailable tracks will be released as part of a 4 CD collection under the titles Movement of the Action Fraction, Re-Action and Jamming The Broadcast. These recordings were made before and after their relationship with EMI.

Following the release of new information including details about unreleased recordings, a new website has been set-up to deal with making this material available. The Re-Flex site will also include music videos, information about the band, and band merchandise.

Discography

Studio albums

• The Politics of Dancing (1983) U.S. #53, West Germany #58
• Humanication (unreleased, planned for 1985)

Singles

• "The Politics of Dancing" (1983) UK #28, U.S. #24, Canada #9, South Africa #19, Switzerland #28, West Germany #25, Australia #11
• "Hurt" (1983) US #82
• "Couldn't Stand A Day" (1983)
• "Hitline" (1983)
• "Praying To The Beat" (1984)
• "Sensitive" (1984)
• "How Much Longer" (1985) West Germany #59

^[2]

See also

• One-hit wonders in the UK
• List of New Wave bands and artists
• List of performers on Top of the Pops

References

External links

• Official JHP Website