Current line up:Bernard Sumner (vocals, keyboards), Johnny Marr (vocals, guitar, bass), Jimmi Goodwin (bass), Ged Lynch (drums) Merv De Peyer (Keyboards)

After meeting in 1988, New Order frontman Bernard Sumner and The Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, decided to form Electronic. The Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tenant and Chris Lowe joined the group for their first release, the "Getting Away With It" single in 1989. It spectacularly introduced the collaboration, reaching an impressive Number 12 in the UK singles chart and shifting some 350,000 copies in the process.

The brilliant self-titled album, "Electronic", followed. Described by Melody Maker as "one of the greatest albums of all time", it blended the collective writing and instrumental skills of the creative partnership, with the vocals of Neil Tenant and Denise Johnson (now with Primal Scream) and the drumming of A Certain Ratio's Donald Johnson. "Electronic" debuted at Number 2 in the UK album charts in March 1991 producing the hit singles "Get The Message" (reaching No.8) and "Feel Every Beat" (No.39). The 1992 single, "Disappointed", also included Neil Tenant and became Electronic's biggest hit to date, reaching No.6 in the UK. 808 State also remixed a version of the track.

There then came a large break in Electronic's output as Bernard Sumner returned to his 'day-job', recording the chart-topping New Order album "Republic" in 1994.

1996 however saw the return of Electronic; their second album, "Raise The Pressure", again pushed the boundaries of modern music even further. Whereas the debut album had been loosely based around the Pet Shop Boys' input, this one was heavily centred on that supplied by Kraftwerk's keyboard player Karl Bartos. Primal Scream's Denise Johnson returned to supply vocals and Black Grape's Ged Lynch provided the drumming.

Whilst "Raise The Pressure" was not as successful as "Electronic" (it only sold 100,000 copies), it did spawn the singles "Forbidden City", "For You", "Second Nature" and "Until The End Of Time" (which was also remixed by K-Klass).

Their third album, "Twisted Tenderness" was released in April 1999 to great approval. With a heavy input from largely unknown vocalist, Astrid Williamson, it is a lot rockier than their earlier work. Jimmi Goodwin (Doves, ex-Sub Sub) provides guest vocals and guitar work alonside the guitarwork of Guy Pratt (ex-Marion), whilst Black Grape's Ged Lynch also returns to provide guest drumming.

"Twisted Tenderness" has so far produced the hit singles "Prodigal Son", "Vivid", "Make It Happen" and "Late At Night".

Electronic are a perfect combination - Bernard Sumner's softly-spoken Mancunian accent compliments Johnny Marr's guitar work that influenced a whole generation. They are back - better than ever!