Marc and the Mambas

Marc and the Mambas emerged in 1982 as an experimental new wave venture from Soft Cell frontman Marc Almond, showcasing a darker, more avant-garde direction than his primary project. The group’s fluid lineup featured notable collaborators including Matt Johnson of The The and keyboardist Annie Hogan, whose partnership with Almond would extend into his subsequent solo work and define much of his artistic output throughout the 1980s.

The project distinguished itself through its fusion of new wave sensibilities with post-punk atmospherics and electronic textures, establishing Almond’s reputation as a versatile artist willing to explore unconventional sonic territories. Though operating as a side venture, Marc and the Mambas proved instrumental in shaping the experimental electronic music landscape of early 1980s Britain, bridging the gap between synth-pop accessibility and avant-garde experimentation.