The German synth pop band C.C.C.P. separated themselves
from '80s Depeche Mode and Erasure wannabes by having a tougher, more energetic
sound. Led by vocalist Rasputin Stoy, C.C.C.P. released their debut singles
"American-Soviets I" and "American-Soviets II" in 1986,
both hits in alternative dance clubs. Although C.C.C.P. received scant airplay
in the U.S., they remained a favourite of club DJs throughout the '80s, and
tracks like 1987's "Made in Russia" further expanded the group's
following among post-punk partygoers. As with their electronic peers,
C.C.C.P.'s records were frequently remixed, appearing in countless versions
before the band finally released their first album, The World, in 1990. Two
years later, Best of C.C.C.P.: 1985-1992 provided a summary of the mysterious
group's career. C.C.C.P. recorded The Hallucinogenic Toreador in 1992 and The
Cosmos in 1996, neither of which had the impact of their earlier material.