Scarlet Soho are back with this powerful 31 track Best Of & Rarities double album, celebrating 20 years of music making. 20 years of great retro music with a synth pop, New Wave, disco and minimal wave touch! I reviewed them in the past, loved them and should have seen them on stage (but it got cancelled), so here we go!
CD 1 showcases the band's better known tracks from all 3 studio albums (Divisions Of Decency, Warpaint, and In Cold Blood) as well as previously unreleased versions of Into The Night, and Children Of The Sun.
Modern Radio (from their first album: Divisions Of Decency) sounds like how poppy New Wave from the 80’s sounded back in the 80’s. It’s a real earworm and could have been written by a million selling band in the 80’s (I know: I might repeat myself, but it describes their qualities the best, just as the sound). It’s party time! Skin Trade is all getting fired up by the electronic drums, whilst the vocals sound cold as ice and the minimalistic wave invites you to dance in a happy way. The Human League & Depeche Mode are never far away in this song. The backings are great too! Up to the main track of this double album: Programmed To Perfection. This song has a certain David Bowie feeling in it, mixed with New Wave and a bit of guitars. Disconnected shows off James’ vocal powers, whilst we hear a lot of beeps and a synth on overdrive. Some backings are turned into a metallic voice (a bit like Air does).
I Dare brings us to the Warpaint album and gives you the need to dance and jump up and down. It’s a very feelgood track. Analogue Dialogue (Kill The Beat) sounds so catchy and cool that even my 6 years old daughter loves it! I hear a bit of Giorgio Moroder (From Her To Eternity) in it, but played a bit faster. It’s once again a very dancefloor minded track and gosh, what do I miss the dancefloor! Cyclone sounds less strong, but keeps the 80’s vibe. Speak Your Mind goes back to their strength: poppy & happy beats. Even the bass invites you to be happy and jump around whilst waving with your arms! The chorus is very catchy too! Is Growing Up The Best That We Can Do? Sounds very funny, despite the serious question in the title. The typical 80’s sound is off course a surplus! Lights Out London is the party killer: the last track you play before heading home. I like it!
In Cold Blood (brings us to the same album) starts with a piano and a very sensitive sounding voice before the electronics awaken and turn it into a synth/disco killer track! It all sounds very catchy and it's hard to stand still. More disco comes with When The Lights Go Out: an absolutely great retro electro track that creates a sweet party on stage. I like the stomping bass and the sweet catchiness of the sound. It sounds a bit like Mesh in love.... More sweetness and a catchy chorus come with What you need. The electronics play an important role in this one, but don't underestimate the great nostalgic sounding vocals. The end almost feels like an eclectic sound orgasm. Gigolo sounds very retro, like the original Shatoo or Flesh and the Pan. Solo KO is the last blow, before knocking us out: yes, a vocal and musical uppercut (with a Depeche Mode touch).
Into The Night ft. Isgaard and Loic Rathscheck sounds like a masterpiece with great extra vocals that gives it that extra special touch! The song is not as poppy and not as jumping up and down as the other tracks, but it has a special sound and somehow crawls into your heart. Children Of The Sun ft. Loic Rathscheck has modern sound, a slow tempo but gets this special feeling that keeps you attached to this song. I think you can hear the way the band is evolving (or at least the involved artists). Halfway the track it reminds me a bit of that other great (but sadly not so well known) band: Auto-Auto.
CD 2 explores early demo versions, B-sides, and remixes from the likes of !distain, James Yuill, Trouble Over Tokyo (Sohn) and Teenage Mutants.
No Encore (Digimix) sounds heavier, almost brutal (with heavy guitar and drums): I adore it! I would love to hear this on stage! I get a Pulp feeling here (with a strong bass and more beats).
Pseudo Sushi has a dreamy touch, but with a very vivid synth, a loud bass and dito drum computer (next to the guitar). Useless Information sounds raw (but in a good way). I adore the melancholic touch and the beeps and blips in the background. The guitar sound is also a great thing. Daylight (Demo) sounds like a would be disco electro hit if it would have been used as a single and get out of the demo section! I really like this one! Dance, dance, dance! Wire Me Up (Demo) is another great synth pop track with a good tempo and is dancefloor minded. I don’t get it why this one didn’t make it on an album or on an EP (or did I miss something)? Retail Therapy (Demo) could have been A Flock Of Seagulls track and would be great on a regular best off 80’s! Professionals (Demo) has a strong weeping feel, whilst the tempo is low. The beats and synths gives it a modern touch, whilst the vocals sound sweet.
Is Growing Up The Best That We Can Do? (DJ Barletta) makes us listen to a remix of a great song, but changed into a typical DJ track (and fans of it will love it), it’s not my cup of tea and my kids ask me right away: “What is this?”. Talking about a better remix: When The Lights Go Out (Tokytron Remix). This version feels more like an alternate version and that is absolutely a good thing! Gigolo (!distain Remix) sounds like as if it was reworked by Shatoo. It has a typical 80’s gay feel. It’s a cool remix, coming straight from the past and making it sound o so great! Solo KO (Teenage Mutants Remix) sounds totally different from the original and a bit too much like DJ stuff, but I’m pretty sure a lot of people will love it! Two Steps From Headache (James Yuill Remix) is yet another DJ minded version and as you know by now not really my cup of tea (however in this version it’s actually not that bad for me).
Solo KO (Candide Remix) is actually one of the best remixes as it’s catchy and not too much reworked (I actually hear One More Try in the background, you know that song from Timmy T). Last one is In Cold Blood (!distain Remix) and gives us a slow and very melancholic version (with a cool piano), the kind I really like and thus makes this a great end for this double album!
