[1] 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.
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.
The band's debut self-titled album, The Expression, recorded in Sydney and mixed in New York City, was produced by Charles Fisher[5] (Radio Birdman, Hoodoo Gurus, Moving Pictures) was released in late 1983 and reached No.
Haran and Dowling opted to continue to work under The Expression banner, and recruited several English based session players, including drummer Gary Burke and bassist Steve Greetham, to record material for a second album.
"Small Brave Land" was released in July 1985 and was quickly followed by The Expression's second album Conscience, but neither managed to secure a new audience or even retain the band's previous fan base to any great degree.
[citation needed] Haran and Dowling recruited a new stage line-up, Bill Heckenberg (drums), Tim Lumsdaine (bass)[2] but by late 1985 the ever-evolving contemporary music scene had left The Expression behind, and soon thereafter the band called it a day.