Yazoo were a synthpop duo formed by producer Vince Clarke and contralto Alison Moyet. (In North America they were known as Yaz, due to a name conflict with Yazoo Records.)
Clarke had been the initial keyboardist and primary songwriter for Depeche Mode. He left the band in November 1981, a month after the release of their debut album Speak & Spell. He placed an ad for a vocalist, and quickly found Moyet.
After two highly successful albums and five singles, Clarke dissolved the band in 1983. They reunited briefly in 2008, toured, and recorded a new EP and a live album.