Comateens

Comateens is a New York band formed in 1978 by guitarist Ramona Jan (née Janquitto) and singer/bassist Nicholas North (née Dembling), joined by Lyn Byrd (vocals, keyboards). After Jan's departure in 1980, Oliver North (West's brother) took over guitar duties for the trio, who scoured Manhattan's post-punk/new wave scene. Featured on the Marty Thau Presents 2x5 compilation, Comateens recorded a debut album of the same name, noted for its covers of The Lovin' Spoonful ("Summer in the City") or David Bowie ("TVC 15") and original compositions such as "Ghosts" or "Late Night City". The band's sound, with its drum machine, funk bass lines and synthpop keyboards, evolved into a singular style in keeping with the New York musical melting pot, with its urban atmospheres, which seduced the Virgin Records label. Released in 1983, the second Pictures on a String album oscillates between the Latino warmth of "Get Off My Case" and the icy tracks of "Ice Machine" and "Cold Eyes", not forgetting a cover of the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weill ballad "Uptown " for The Crystals in 1962. Deal with It (1984), their third and final album as a trio, offers a more energetic, danceable version, as do the catchy refrains "Resist Her" and "Don't Come Back", with the participation of drummer Chuck Sabo. Particularly popular in France, where their fans include Etienne Daho and Indochine, Comateens broke up in 1985. Two years later, in June 1987, Oliver North died of a heart attack following a heroin overdose. His brother, who had changed his pseudonym to Nic West, reunited with Lyn Byrd to record the album West & Byrd (1988). Back under the Comateens name in 1990, the duo adapted Françoise Hardy's song for Julien Clerc, "Fais-moi une place", into English, which became "A Place for Me", while the compilation One by One: The Best of Comateens was released in 1991.

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