Candyflip

Emerging from the nonstop revelry that defined Manchester's nightlife during the transition from the 1980s into the 1990s, the British ensemble Candy Flip drew its moniker from the colloquial expression denoting the combination of ecstasy and acid. The duo, consisting of Danny Spencer handling vocals and keyboards alongside Ric Peet on keyboards, came together in 1990. Although they did not garner the same level of critical praise as their contemporaries and clear inspirations Happy Mondays and the Stone Roses, Candy Flip managed to draw notice from British media and broadcasters through their electronically reimagined version of the Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." This track, which boasted a funkier groove and greater appeal for club environments compared to the original Beatles recording, reached the third position on the U.K. charts and achieved modest airplay at college and alternative outlets across America. Their debut full-length effort, titled Madstock...The Further Adventures of Fish Rides a Bicycle, arrived in 1991 and embodied both the chemically influenced rhythms characteristic of Manchester's dance scene as well as the whimsical electronic pop sounds associated with Pet Shop Boys and the Beloved. The album earned unexpected positive responses despite the band's reputation as a one-hit wonder. Candy Flip disbanded in 1992 once the rave culture in England had begun to wane. Peet went on to establish himself as a producer and engineer, collaborating with acts including the Charlatans U.K. and Six By Seven, while Spencer became a member of Sound 5 and issued the album No Illicit Dancing in 2000.