Attacco Decente were a musical group from

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

, England, active from 1984 to 1996. The band was notable for using unusual

acoustic instrument Acoustic music is music that solely or primarily uses instruments that produce sound through acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means. While all music was once acoustic, the retronym "acoustic music" appeared after the ad ...

s such as

hammered dulcimer The hammered dulcimer (also called the hammer dulcimer) is a percussion-string instrument which consists of String (music), strings typically stretched over a trapezoidal resonant sound board (music), sound board. The hammered dulcimer is set bef ...

Appalachian dulcimer The Appalachian dulcimer (many variant names; see below) is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings, originally played in the Appalachian region of the United States. The body extends the length of t ...

s, and

tongue drum A slit drum, or slit gong, is a hollow percussion instrument, often made out of wood or bamboo. In spite of its often being called a drum, it is not a true drum, because it lacks a ''drumhead'', the membrane (made out of animal skin or plastic) ...

s alongside more conventional instruments such as

acoustic guitar An acoustic guitar is a musical instrument in the string family. When a string is plucked, its vibration is transmitted from the bridge, resonating throughout the top of the guitar. It is also transmitted to the side and back of the instrument, ...

and

acoustic bass guitar The acoustic bass guitar (sometimes shortened to acoustic bass or initialized ABG) is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually larger than, a steel-string acoustic guitar. Like the traditional electric bass guitar ...

. Their founder member and sole constant was

Geoff Smith Geoff Smith may refer to: *Geoff Smith (music composer) (born 1966), English composer, academic and vice chancellor of Regent's University London * Geoff Smith (footballer, born 1928) (1928–2013), English footballer *Geoff Smith (politician) (bor ...

History

Their lyrics, written by Smith, reflected a strong

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

political stance, especially on the early singles and the first album. The band's first single, "Trojan Horse", featured Smith and Graham Barlow. Acoustic guitarist and backing vocalist Mark Allen joined and they released a 12" EP, "U.K.A. (United Kingdom of America)", , the sleeve of which featured an endorsement from Billy Bragg. The band released their debut album, ''The Baby Within Us Marches On'', in 1988. Barlow left after the release of the "I Don't Care How Long It Takes" single. Smith and Allen recorded the band's second and last album, ''Crystal Night'', as a duo. The band's sound changed somewhat in this incarnation, with the heavily percussive sound of the trio line-up replaced by a mellower, folky feel. There was less emphasis on the tongue drums and more on the hammered dulcimer and Allen's guitar, which took on a markedly

flamenco Flamenco () is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the Gitanos, gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and Region of Murcia, ...

aspect. Smith's lyrics became less overtly political, and more concerned with love and personal relationships. The band split after ''Crystal Night''. Smith continued as a solo performer and composer, creating music for film and dance. Allen is now a teacher, but has also continued to work as a singer and guitarist in a number of groups.

Discography

Singles and EPs

*"Trojan Horse"/"Storms Clear the Air" (Timber, 1984) *"U.K.A. (United Kingdom of America)" (All or Nothing, 1986) – tracks: "The Law Above The Law", "U.K.A.", "Dad Hits Mum", "Touch Yourself", "All Or Nothing") *"The Will of One" (All or Nothing; 7", 12", CD, 1988) – tracks on 7": "The Will of One" (short version), "One Mountain, One Checkpoint, One Chance"; tracks on 12" and CD: "The Will of One" (short version), "The Will of One" (long version), "One Mountain, One Checkpoint, One Chance", "Together in a Bed of Blossom") *"I Don't Care How Long It Takes" (All or Nothing; 7", 12", CD, 1988) – tracks on 12" and CD: "I Don't Care How Long It Takes" (7" version), "I Don't Care How Long It Takes" (Hammer House Mix), "Tears of Blood", "Don't Join Their Army")

Albums

*''The Baby Within Us Marches On'' (All or Nothing; LP, CD, 1988) *''Crystal Night'' (All or Nothing; cassette, CD, 1996)

References

{{reflist Musical groups from Brighton and Hove English folk musical groups Hammered dulcimer players