Scritti Politti
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
It's been a long while since I checked in with Scritti Politti, not since Cupid & Psyche '85 way back in '85 when they caught my ear with the super-sophisto pop sounds of "Perfect Way". Yeah, I know they began life as some kind of abrasive, politically-radical post-punk act, but nothing was left of that by the time the aforementioned record appeared, nor has it reappeared since. They released a follow-up a few years later which was widely disliked and then went missing until 1999, releasing an album whose guest spots by various hip-hoppers led me to believe that maybe main Scritti-guy Green Gartside had found a new fascination, one I didn't particularly share. I have no idea since I never listened to the record.But I do like this new disc, very much. It's still slick, ambitious synth-pop but it's got a more relaxed quality to it, sounding like Gartside is just enjoying himself and creating music for his own satisfaction. As a fan of the mighty Prefab Sprout, I can't help but be drawn toward the elegant music and clever musings of Scritti Politti and their unpredictable song structures. It's lush but not cold and it's extremely melodic and sweet without being cloying. Actually, Gartside's very boyish voice probably would strike some as cloying, but it's in the service of such intelligently written music that it's not a problem. "Snow in Sun" is a highlight, as are "Cooking" and "E11th Nuts". A welcome return from someone I had no expectation of hearing new material from.
Comments (5)
As you liked this I'd urge you to give the 1999 album Anomie and Bonhomie a listen. I'm not much of a hip-hop fan either but somehow the pop/rap/rock hybrid (mostly) works well because it's so melodious (e.g. Die Alone and Umm) and in any case there are other gems such as the gorgeous ballad First Goodbye and the superb Mystic Handyman.