Medium Medium

In the tradition of numerous British late-'70s bands, Medium Medium helped facilitate the bridge from new wave to post-punk with a bleak music that was light on melody, yet heavy on funk-influenced rhythms with throbbing bass. The Gang of Four serve as the easiest reference point to their sound, though Medium Medium were not pointedly political in their lyrics, as the Gang of Four were. Those finger-popping bass lines, detached and not terribly hopeful vocals, and edgy song structures made the Gang of Four comparisons all the easier. It's a little strange that Medium Medium have largely vanished into discographies, while the Gang of Four remain a hip touchstone for those into new wave and post-punk. Medium Medium evolved out of the Press, and began releasing material in late 1979. Their second single, "Hungry, So Angry," made some unexpected inroads into the American dance market in 1981, reaching the disco charts. An album, The Glitterhouse, came out later that year, but they were unable to capitalize on the success of "Hungry, So Angry," such as it was. Singer/saxophonist John Lewis quit at the end of 1981 after their first American tour. Although they continued without Lewis for a while, extensively touring internationally in 1982 and putting out another single, they disbanded in 1983 in the absence of a record deal. Lewis put out records as part of C Cat Trance after his departure from Medium Medium.