Playgroup - Euphoria, 1985 (Factory Benelux)

The only single from this little-known New York outfit, not not to be confused with Trevor Jackson’s electroclash Playgroup project. Released in ‘85 on Factory Benelux alongside two other 12” singles, Playgroups’ sound fits in perfectly along side the likes of New Order, but unfortunately suffered from a lack of promotion.

The Benelux label was the result of an informal arrangement made in 1980 between Factory Records and Les Disques du Crépuscule in Brussels, whereby the latter released ‘spare’ recordings by Factory artists. However most of the Benelux releases have proved to be jewels in the Factory crown - The Key of Dreams (Section 25), Everything’s Gone Green (New Order), Shack Up (A Certain Ratio), Calcutta (The Names) and The Plateau Phase (Crispy Ambulance). Now defunct as a political entity, the term Benelux referred to the pre-EU customs union formed by Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.