Click Click: The Industrial Dance Pioneers
Click Click is an English electronic music group known for their aggressive fusion of industrial, EBM, and post-punk. Hailing from London, the band achieved cult status in the 1980s underground scene with their influential album Wired & Wired.
Early career
Click Click formed in 1981 around the core duo of Adrian Smith and David "Baz" Brooks. The band emerged from the same London experimental scene that birthed many industrial acts, quickly developing a reputation for intense, synth-driven live performances.
Their early independent releases, including the 1982 cassette Kings of the Wild Frontier?, showcased a raw, rhythmic sound. This DIY approach led to their signing with the Belgian label Play It Again Sam in 1984, a key home for European alternative music.
Breakthrough
The band's breakthrough arrived in 1986 with the release of their debut studio album, Wired & Wired. Released on Play It Again Sam, the album became a staple on college radio and in European clubs, solidifying their sound.
While not a mainstream chart success, Wired & Wired achieved significant underground sales and critical acclaim. Its success established Click Click as a formidable force within the industrial dance genre.
Key tracks
Wired & Wired — This title track defined their signature sound with its relentless sequencer lines and distorted vocals.
Attack Decay — A club favorite that highlighted their mastery of harsh, danceable rhythms and atmospheric tension.
Don't Go — Showcased a more melodic, yet still dark, side of their songwriting, gaining wider club play.
Crack Down — Later became a standout track, often cited for its complex production and political lyrical undertones.
Following Wired & Wired, Click Click continued to evolve, releasing the album Worship in 1988. They collaborated with figures like Psychic TV's Genesis P-Orridge, further entrenching their place in the industrial milieu.
The band's activity slowed in the 1990s but their influence persisted. Their music has been featured on various compilations celebrating the industrial and EBM genres, reminding new audiences of their foundational role.
Fans of Click Click's abrasive synth-punk often explore similar artists. Nitzer Ebb shares the same driving EBM pulse and minimalist aggression. Front 242 pioneered the Belgian industrial sound that influenced Click Click's label home. The experimental edge of Cabaret Voltaire mirrors their early tape manipulation and found-sound aesthetics. Lastly, Skinny Puppy operated in a parallel, more theatrical vein of complex industrial music.
Click Click's catalog maintains a steady rotation on dedicated alternative music radio stations. Their tracks are frequently featured on specialty shows focusing on industrial, post-punk, and classic alternative genres across multiple online radio streams.
The music of Click Click can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover or listen to this pioneering industrial act through the dedicated alternative and classic electronic stations available on onairium.com.
