Quando Quango

Their sound was the result of an eclectic mix of Latin, jazz, reggae and disco, all in a pioneering new wave context.

[citation needed] Hillegonda Rietveld said, describing the group's music, "...Fela Kuti meets Kraftwerk somewhere between Manchester and Rotterdam, part of a new wave of post-punk electronica, with a whole lot of Mike Pickering's admirably broad knowledge of soul, disco, reggae and pop to stuff the gaps".

[1][2] Bernard Sumner of Joy Division and New Order, who with Donald Johnson of A Certain Ratio produced early Quando Quango recordings, was a major influence on the group.

Gonnie Rietveld settled into her role programming their electronic music, and Pickering continued to write lyrics and melodies.

After releasing a few singles that were minor dance club hits, the group collaborated with Johnny Marr and Vini Reilly to create the full-length album Pigs + Battleships.