Yaz(00) Redux: 9:30 Club, 7/20

Whether you call them “Yaz” or “Yazoo” depends on whether you’re American or British, respectively. Either way, this legendary ‘80s synth duo has reunited for a series of concerts in support of a 25th anniversary boxset – and they’re coming to 9:30 Club this Sunday, 7/20.

I had been listening to synthesizer wizard Vince Clarke’s work with Erasure when I was in high school, but it was only in college when I thought to find out what he’d been up to before that band. As it turned out, he was one of the founding members of Depeche Mode, and dictated the sound of their 1980 album Speak + Spell, before ditching the band to form Yaz in 1982. In Yaz, the combination of his synthesizers, alternately poppy or brooding, matched perfectly with Alison Moyet’s deep, smoky voice. They had two hit albums – Upstairs at Eric’s, featuring hits like “Situation” and “Only You,” and the less known but equally successful You and Me Both – then broke up.

Depending on who you listen to, the split was caused either by Clarke’s musical restlessness (Yaz, at two albums, was his longest time in any of his first three bands) or Moyet’s desire to write more of her own songs. On a positive note, his eventual teaming with flamboyant singer Andy Bell in Erasure led to a few brilliant late ‘80s and early ‘90s explicitly gay pop albums (followed, to my mind, by a long decline). Moyet’s solo career has also been a huge artistic success, if she’s only had hits in Britain, with songs like “All Cried Out” and “Love Resurrection.” If you can find any of her out-of-print albums, particularly Hoodoo or Essex (where she turned Jules Shear’s “Whispering Your Name” into a fabulous lesbian love song), do so. If your musical tastes tend more toward the ultra-dramatic, she may have reached the height of her abilities with lush torch songs on 2002’s Hometime: definitely worth a listen (or several).

At the time I bought tickets, they’d sworn they would only play 6 dates in 3 cities, so I rushed to plan a trip to New York City. By now, of course, they’ve expanded the tour and are hitting the 9:30 Club, where D.C.ers who’d rather support music in their own hometown can see ‘em. Buzz from fans who went to tour dates in Great Britain and Scotland is overwhelmingly positive, raving about Moyet’s voice and Clarke’s arrangements. If I’m able to, I’ll post my own comments right here on the site after tomorrow night’s NYC concert, but if you’re at all a fan of synth-pop, rush to get tickets now, before they sell out.