Oppenheimer Analysis

Oppenheimer Analysis is a Cold Wave duo consisting of weapons of mass destruction expert Andy Oppenheimer and Brighton musician Martin Lloyd.

Thus far they've produced only two sets of tracks: the New Mexico sessions from 1982, and the Der Wissenschaftler sessions from 2005. Their discography is rather short:

• 1982 Andie Oppenheimer - demo tape
• 1982 Andie Oppenheimer - New Mexico tape
• 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - New Mexico reissue on private CDR
• 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - s/t 12" of 4 tracks from New Mexico (500 numbered copies)
• 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - Songs From The Atomic Age compilation of tracks from New Mexico + unreleased '82 material
• 2005 Oppenheimer Analysis - Der Wissenschaftler EP 4 new tracks + 2 remixes thereof
• 2007 Oppenheimer Analysis - 2005 s/t 12" repress (500 numbered copies)

In both sessions, Andy Oppenheimer's disaffected, feminine vocals are reminiscent of those of Jenny "Looking From A Hilltop" Ross, perhaps with a hint of Neil Tennant and Alison Moyet. They fit neatly into the bed of transportive electro-disco pop supplied by Lloyd. The overall sound is moody early/mid-'80s in the style of early Pet Shop Boys, if PSB had only been a bit more like Yazoo, but bleak. It's very white, but steers clear of the excesses and clichés that dominated the latter half of the decade. A nice find.

Full track: Oppenheimer Analysis - The Devil's Dancers (Dance With Us)

The 2005 material sounds new but surprisingly recaptures the essence of the original sessions. One track, however, is dressed with a buzzy, inauthentic lead synth, the kind that has been an electroclash staple since the late '90s and really can't die soon enough.

Clips (direct MP3 links):

1. The Devil's Dancers (Dance With Us)
2. Radiance
3. Men In White Coats
4. from the 2005 sessions, Science

In 1981, an instrumental single was released by Martin Lloyd with Paul Ashley, under the name Analysis. It, too, is a lost gem for the retro synth heads. The two tracks from the 7" ("Surface Tension" and "Connect") can be heard on Lloyd's MySpace.