SOFT CELL

This Northern Electro soul group from Leeds fused together a sleazy, sexual sound and image
with alternative disco. Originally two art school friends, lead singer Marc Almond and Dave Ball (synthesiser) scraped enough money together to make an EP "Mutant Moments". This brought them to the attention of Stevo, a music entrepreneur, who included them on his
"Some Bizzare Album".

After a further underground hit with "Memorabilia" they headed straight to the top of the charts with their international million-seller, Tainted Love". The beautiful "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" was their third Top 5 hit released in February 1982. It shows Almond's remarkable ability to wrap an emotive story around a simple melodic line. The band, from this point on, would always be competing with the success of their first hit to deliver more socially conscious and political messages.

Increasingly, Almond's overtly gay sexuality provoked fierce criticism in the eighties. From the tabloid and music press and this, together with Ball's reluctance to tour, put a great strain on the duo's relationship. The self-conscious title of their third album, The Art Of Failing Apart" released in 1983, came shortly before an announced split but the band managed a farewell tour and another studio album before Almond embarked on a solo career.

It is now rumoured that they may reform and the sexual controversy that once caused provication in the eighties has now become far more acceptable in the new millennium.


Recommended listening: Non-stop erotic caberet, The art of falling apart