{{Short description|British synth-pop project}} {{other uses|Assembly (disambiguation)}} {{Use British English|date=April 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Assembly | image = | caption = | image_size = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = Basildon, Essex, England | genre = Synth-pop | years_active = {{circa|1983}} | label = {{hlist|Mute|Sire}} | current_members = | past_members = {{unbulleted list|Vince Clarke|Eric Radcliffe}} | website = }}
'''The Assembly''' were a British synth-pop project formed in 1983 in Basildon, England, by Vince Clarke (songwriting, keyboards, backing vocals) and Eric Radcliffe (songwriting, production).
Feargal Sharkey was hired as a guest vocalist for the A-side of the duo's only single, "Never Never". Clarke and Radcliffe had planned to use a different singer on each track the duo recorded,<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-assembly-mn0000033095/biography|title=The Assembly | Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=30 October 2019}}</ref> but the duo disbanded after the release of "Never Never".
==Band history== Clarke founded the Assembly shortly after disbanding Yazoo (featuring vocalist Alison Moyet), upon completion and distribution of Yazoo's 1983 album, ''You and Me Both''.<ref name="Larkin80">{{cite book|title=The Virgin Encyclopedia of Eighties Music|editor=Colin Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|publisher=Virgin Books|date=2003|edition=Third|isbn=1-85227-969-9|pages=32/3}}</ref>
The Assembly marked the most involved phase of Clarke's long-term professional relationship with sound engineer Radcliffe, who had contributed significant influences to the recordings of Clarke's previous bands, Depeche Mode and Yazoo. However, the Assembly project never became a full-fledged band and resulted in only one single release, the UK hit "Never Never".<ref name="Larkin80"/> It featured a sampled guitar track triggered note for note on a Fairlight CMI. The sound was augmented by session musician Clem Clempson on electric guitar.<ref name="AMG"/>
Former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey was hired to sing on this track. Clarke and Radcliffe had planned to use a different singer on each track the group recorded,<ref name="AMG"/> but none were released after "Never Never".<ref name="Larkin80"/>
The other track on the single, "Stop/Start", was an instrumental, featuring Clarke's signature songwriting style with syncopation that gradually became the downbeat of the musical phrase.{{Citation needed|date=May 2012}}
Despite the commercial success of the single, the Assembly was no longer a functioning entity by the end of 1984. Clarke went on to form Erasure with vocalist and co-songwriter Andy Bell in 1985.<ref name="Larkin80"/> Although Erasure worked with Radcliffe on some of their early work, they eventually began working with other producers and engineers, including Flood. Sharkey, for his part, began a successful solo career in 1984,<ref name="Larkin80"/> and achieved his only UK number one single in 1985 with "A Good Heart".
"Never Never" was re-released on CD single in 1996 with four tracks, containing both the normal and extended versions of both the title song, and "Stop/Start".<ref name="AMG"/> The music video for "Never Never", filmed at Upminster Windmill in the London Borough of Havering, was featured on the first ''Now That's What I Call Music!'' video in 1983, though it did not feature on the corresponding compilation album.
==Reunion== In May 2011, Sharkey appeared on stage during the Erasure set at Mute Records' Short Circuit music festival for a one-off performance of "Never, Never" with Clarke.
==Discography== * "Never Never" – b/w "Stop/Start" (instrumental) – 1983 – Mute TINY1 – No. 4 UK<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|first=David|last=Roberts|year=2006|title=British Hit Singles & Albums|edition=19th|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|location=London|isbn=1-904994-10-5|page=31}}</ref> – BPI: Silver<ref>{{cite web|title=Assembly - Never Never|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/4517-1177-1|website=bpi.co.uk|access-date=20 July 2022}}</ref>
==See also== *''The Tube'' (1982 TV series) *Casio VL-1
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Depeche Mode}} {{Feargal Sharkey}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Assembly, The}} Category:English electronic music duos Category:English pop music duos Category:English synth-pop groups Category:English male musical duos Category:Electronic music supergroups Category:British supergroups Category:Musical groups established in 1983 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1984 Category:Musical groups from Essex Category:Mute Records artists Category:Sire Records artists