Scottish music duo formed by Billy Mackenzie (vocals) and Alan Rankine (instruments/arrangements), known for dramatic vocals and inventive, artful pop. Active mainly from 1979 to 1990.

Formed in 1979 by Billy Mackenzie and Alan Rankine. Billy Mackenzie (the group's lead singer) died in 1997.

The reviews praise The Associates for Billy Mackenzie's distinctive, dramatic voice and Alan Rankine's inventive arrangements. Key albums discussed are Sulk, Fourth Drawer Down and Perhaps. Reviewers highlight melodic ingenuity and theatrical delivery while noting occasional overproduction and melodrama. Overall the duo is celebrated for expanding pop's expressive possibilities.

For:Fans of new wave, art-pop and dramatic, theatrical vocalists.

 Globally eccentric and incredibly refined: there's enough here to make Alan Rankine and Billy MacKenzie, aka "The Associates," quite appealing.

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 This review is all for you, Billy... thank you from those who do not forget you and who will always carry your wonderful voice in the memory of time and thank you for helping other souls to live and survive even through your music and those who will know how to read between the lines of your pain.

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 In the ongoing miracle represented by the perfect three-minute pop song, a special place is reserved for the Associates, namely Alan Rankine and Billy Mackenzie, authors of at least three albums of wrenching, twisted beauty, not devoid of sparkling and "dance" elements, in the best sense of the word (that is, liberating).

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