Soft Cell -- classic or dud?

The original video for Sex Dwarf remains disturbingly impressive:

http://vimeo.com/10458506

(NSFW and probably illegal in a few states.)

oh man i wanna watch that but i'm at W
..Cabaret is the best €2 purchase I made this year

NSEC is one of those albums that sold because of the hit single, only to surprise/shock said buyers that the single isn't remotely representative of their style. Sometimes, discovering that can be a good thing. This time, it is.

Here doggy doggy

http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/soft_cells_infamous_sex_dwarf_video_nsfw

now that looks like a good time

...is currently banned from YouTube.

Nope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=470l3j-56CY

I don't know how anyone could call the band who made that video a dud.

I never got into Soft Cell as much as I did other bands from that period, but I still enjoy listening to that first album from time to time.

The extended Torch is extraordinary. Their best moment, I think. Loving this tonight.

NON-STOP EROTIC CABARET is one of the best albums of the 80s. It has aged like fine wine. Little known secret: Soft Cell's videos are amongst the best of all-time. They were all directed (AFAIK) by Tim Pope, who worked extensively with The Cure.

Chilling:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wz_x1Arnuw0

When I finally read the book it worked even more brilliantly, though they are two different beasts in the end.

Go Alfred!

http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/soft-cell-feature

thanks!

Really great in-depth feature on The Art of Falling Apart here at the Quietus today

http://thequietus.com/articles/14100-soft-cell-interview-marc-almond

I can't stop listening to This Last In Sodom at the moment... while not the most accessible Soft Cell album, there's something about it that keeps making me return to it a lot at the moment. 'Slave To This', for one, is just insane and wonderful.

This Last Night In Sodom, rather.

and oh my god, 'Surrender To A Stranger'...

Great, scuzzy and insane album. My favorite of theirs by a mile.

The Art of Falling Apart is my favourite but some of my favourite songs of theirs are on Sodom. Little Rough Rhinestone, Meet Murder My Angel and Soul Inside are all so good. It does have its weaker moments, Slave to This still creeps me out a little too much and Down in the Subway is the only weak Soft Cell single.

I've occasionally read Sodom being described as "unlistenable", but that's absolute bollocks really. It does have an attitude to it that I don't seem to get from the other two Soft Cell albums, though. A synth-punk from a time when mainstream synth-pop was getting increasingly chirpier.

*album

Neil Tennant's review of This Last Night In Sodom from Smash Hits:

Out with a bang. For their final LP together Marc Almond and David Ball have put together a hot, rockin' collection of new songs about sin, squalot, suffering etc. The rock'n'roll rhythm of 'Down In The Subway' isn't restricted to that track; several others, particularly 'Mr Self Destruct' could be jived to with ease. Others are steeped in a luscious, Spanish sensuousness, hot and revengeful, with richly textured synthesizers and a twangy guitar. A triumphant farewell. (8.5 out of 10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3h2SS-sSMfY

So I'm listening to 'Fun City' for what must be the hundredth time now, and it still hasn't lost any of its power. Their best ever song? I'm beginning to think so.

I'm listening to This Last Night In Sodom again and... man, this album is just fucking incredible. Why aren't this and The Art Of Falling Apart seen as being up there with the first album? They're all excellent!

'Soul Inside' just came up on shuffle and my god, why this song wasn't the huge hit it deserved to be is a huge mystery.

Lol at "luscious, Spanish sensuosness" in that Neil Tennant review if you read it in his voice.

Ha, yeah!

Of course, being a Pet Shop Boys fan, I was delighted when I found out that Tennant liked This Last Night In Sodom. It's become my favourite Soft Cell album of them all, and without question one of my personal favourite synthpop albums of all time. I love the relative abrasiveness of it, and such great songs.

Putting 'Slave To This', the most "out there" track on the album, as the second track was an absolute stroke of genius, IMO. After the catchy synth-rock of 'Mr. Self Destruct' it just pours a bucket of ice cold water over the listener immediately. I suspect it was at this point that most turned off the LP, thinking that the rest of the album was going to be some kind of far-out endurance test. It's one of those "are you with us or not?" songs, and remains fucking brilliant. Then it's followed up with songs like 'Little Rough Rhinestone' and 'Meet Murder My Angel'... Superb.

YOU'VE NEVER KNOWN LOVE!
UNTIL YOU HAVE KNOWN THE LOVE OF GOD!

THAT'S RIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIGHT!

New box set on the way, apparently!

Makes sense. Any reports on the contents?

Not yet - although on their FB page a picture of a master tape box from 1980 was posted, which was apparently being digitised.

More news on this...

EXCITING SOFT CELL NEWS - PLEASE READ!!!

We’re pleased to officially announce that we are working on a Soft Cell anthology via Universal Music Catalogue, who did such a fantastic job on Marc’s box set. Release date is not yet scheduled, but we are currently expecting the box set to include 9 CDs and 1 DVD. We are unearthing some amazing content and unreleased/unheard material from the archives of Universal, and the personal collections of Marc and Dave.
However, it’s a mammoth task putting such a project together, especially as it’s over thirty years since the key releases, long before the days of the internet, e-mail, digital photography and modern recording formats as we know them today. We’re keen for this project to ultimately deliver a fully documented archive for posterity, and to remind how seminal this band are for decades to come.
We are therefore inviting Soft Cell fans to make this a really interactive experience by helping us fill in any gaps, and sharing their memorabilia (no pun intended) with us for possible inclusion in the box set and accompanying book. We are especially seeking rare live and other audio and video recordings, bootlegs, remixes as well as photos, press clippings, ticket stubs, merchandise, imports, adverts, posters, set lists – anything with a Soft Cell connection that might deserve a wider audience. All material used will be fully credited to contributors. You can send WeTransfer links, MP3s, scans, documents, or if easier, please just send us an email detailing how you’d like to get involved, or even your suggestions on what you’d like to see (or not for that matter!) on the box set.
We are also looking for written pieces from fans about their own Soft Cell experiences, whether it be general comments, memories, live experiences or anything on topic, some of which we hope to include in the book.
Modern studio techniques allow us to improve both audio and visual content to a certain extent, so as long as it is of a reasonable standard, we might be able to use it – if in doubt, please let us know anyway.

Please email your content to he✧✧✧@softcelloffic✧✧✧.c✧.u✧

We really appreciate your help!

Soft Cell HQ

and on a related note, 'Soul Inside' is one of the most perfect songs ever.

http://www.softcell.co.uk/soft-cell-announce-one-off-40th-anniversary-concert/

Soft Cell Announce One-Off 40th Anniversary Concert
“With Soft Cell I always felt something was unfinished. This last ever final show will be the best ever ending. It will be a real statement and send off, and thank you to every fan” – Marc Almond
“We live in very interesting times, and 2018 promises to be a very special year” – Dave Ball

As announced on BBC Radio 2’s The Chris Evans Breakfast Show this morning we are delighted to confirm that Soft Cell will mark their 40th anniversary in fine style by reuniting for one final concert at London’s The O2 in September 2018.

Marc Almond and Dave Ball will reunite at the venue on September 30th to perform together for the first time since 2003. The ‘Say Hello, Wave Goodbye’ show will also be Soft Cell’s only and last ever show.

I presume it'll end with a burning of an effigy of Stevo.

..and 20.000 waving attendees

And here's the box set's initial details

https://www.lexermusic.com/soft-cell/soft-cell-keychains-snowstorms-the-soft-cell-story

https://i.imgur.com/kMfOW2V.png

Perfect.

Psyched

We have tracklisting

http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/keychains-and-snowstorms-the-soft-cell-story-9cddvd-box-set/

Damn. At 70 quid this looks a steal!

The Torch 12 version may be the best thing ever.

The whole run of singles between the first two albums was amazing.

The supremes redux of tainted love will always be classic

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/aug/21/soft-cell-release-northern-lights-first-new-song-15-years-marc-almond-dave-ball

Wait, whatwhat now!?

Box set in hand:

Two words: hell yes

Four words: Misery! Complaints! Self-pity! Injustice!

(And bonus @simon_price01 content doncha know.) pic.twitter.com/HsVPU1ty0j

— Ned Raggett (@NedRaggett) September 5, 2018

Would crack into it immediately but I have houseguests for the next few days. Alas.

That looks marvellous!

Well, a couple of days away but I'm envious of anyone going to the O2 show on Sunday for sure. They're recording it for audio/video release and preorders are up so I can't complain too much, and I did see them on their American reunion tour back in 2002 or whenever it was as well. Even so, a twinge of regret I can't make it over.