Landscape

Landscape are an English band active from 1974 to 1984. Their line-up includes Richard James Burgess, Chris Heaton, Andy Pask, Peter Thoms and John L. Walters. The group is associated with brit funk, jazz fusion and synth-pop, and is also identified with 1980s British synthpop and new wave.

Formed in England in 1974, they tour extensively through the mid to late 1970s, playing rock, punk and jazz venues. During this period they release two instrumental EPs on their own Event Horizon label. By the late 1970s they begin experimenting with computer-programmed music and electronic drums, moving into electronic dance music and synthpop.

Key recordings

Landscape are best known for the 1981 singles “Einstein A Go-Go” and “Norman Bates”.

Later development

In 1983, Peter Thoms and Chris Heaton leave the group. Richard James Burgess, Andy Pask and John L. Walters continue briefly under the name Landscape III, issuing two singles before the project ends later that year.

Related work

Richard James Burgess also produces Shock and the first two albums by Spandau Ballet while still in Landscape. He later produces recordings by Five Star, King, Adam Ant, America, Colonel Abrams, Kim Wilde, Shriekback, Living in a Box, Tony Banks, Fish, Princess, Jackie Graham, Praise, XC-NN and Rubicon, using the pseudonym Caleb Kadesh for the last two. He also writes The Art of Record Production, later updated as The Art of Music Production, and is credited with coining the term “New Romantic” and with designing the Simmons SDS-V electronic drum set.

John L. Walters later produces records by Swans Way, Kissing the Pink, Twelfth Night, The Mike Gibbs Orchestra and Mark Springer, and co-founds Unknown Public in 1992.