The Expression : With Closed Eyes (Countdown)

The Expression were an Australian synthpop band formed in Sydney in 1981 and disbanded in 1985. Their best known single, "With Closed Eyes", was released in 1983 on Mushroom Records and peaked into the top thirty on the Kent Music Report. The Expression formed in Sydney during 1981 with local musicians Jason O'Donnell on bass and Steve Layton, who went on to work with Jon Anderson from Yes, on keyboards, although three of its members hailed previously from Western Australia. Tom Haran (vocals), Neville Dowling (keyboards, ex-Dave Warner Band), and Andrew Wong-Yen (guitar) had all played in the Perth band Visitor during the late 1970s. By 1981 the trio had relocated to Sydney and formed The Expression, along with Stephen Manassah (bass guitar) and Steve Hopes (drums) (ex-Renee Geyer Band). They quickly established themselves on the Sydney live circuit, with a cutting edge brand of ‘new wave’ pop, combining sharp guitar riffs and haunting synthesizer melodies, topped off by Haran’s unique vocal style. It was the early 1980s and a slickly produced brand of pop-rock was in order if a band/artist wanted to break into the charts, with a throng of up and coming bands all jostling for record deals and chart action (Eurogliders, Real Life, Machinations). Mushroom Records signed The Expression to a recording deal during 1982 and the band set about working on their debut album. The band's first single was "With Closed Eyes", which entered the Australian charts in March 1983 and peaked at No. 27 nationally (No. 18 in Melbourne). More details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expression This performance is from Countdown in either March or April 1983. Please excuse any video jitters; the tape seems to be on the way out and I think I got this clip just in time!