Pro Forma’s original line-up featured a synth/keyboards player, drummer, guitarist and vocalist called Paul Thomson, now better known as the drummer from Franz Ferdinand. Prurient curiosity isn’t the only reason to investigate this short collection of the band’s output to date, however.
The (then) trio dubbed their sound “council house”, which is as accurate a description as any of their tense, darkly glowering lo-fi disco-punk approach. Joy Division, Kraftwerk, The Normal and “Being Boiled”-era Human League have clearly all made an impact here, but the band’s post-house and techno interests divert them from the over-familiar, retro road.
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