Pop · GB · Active since 1978

Dislocation Dance

Wry, jazz-tinted indie pop featuring bright trumpet flourishes and nimble basslines. It is the sound of 1960s sunshine filtered through a 1980s Manchester lens.

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Intro

Dislocation Dance are a seminal Manchester group that bridged the gap between the experimentalism of the post-punk era and the melodic sensibilities of indie pop. Formed in 1978, they were part of the New Hormones scene, a label founded by Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon.

Their sound identity is defined by an eclectic mix of influences including jazz, funk, and 60s pop, most notably distinguished by Andy Diagram's prominent trumpet work. While contemporaries like Orange Juice pursued a 'Sound of Young Scotland,' Dislocation Dance offered a more musically diverse, almost academic approach to pop songcraft. Their career arc saw them move from minimalist EPs to the more polished, jazz-leaning 'Midnight Shift' on Rough Trade. Despite being voted 'band most likely to succeed' by Smash Hits in 1983, they were eventually overshadowed by the rise of The Smiths. Their influence is significant, particularly on the 90s lounge-core and avant-pop movements, with Stereolab frequently citing them as a precursor to their own blend of motorik rhythms and easy-listening melodies.

Our Catalog5 Albums · 1999 · 2025
The Sound · Center of GravityWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
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