How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Outstanding
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Very danceable - to, 80s electro - pop
Disadvantages:
Not your average band - but that's a good thing too !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
"Exceedingly danceable electro-pop. There's a one-listen-and-you're-hooked immediacy to it" - Drowned in Sound
If you grew up in the 80s or just wish you did, this band will have you bopping your head broodily on your first listen. They have been compared to Depeche Mode and The Human League, but darker and deeper for a new generation of electropop listeners.
The Band
Having toured the UK with Delays and Razorlight, and Germany with IAMX, the band are still in their early days, signed to indie label Human Recordings. Still, at every gig they never fail to impress, especially supporting indie bands such as Razorlight, where you might not expect an electro band to go down so well, from all reports the crowd were dancing and singing along with abandon.
The band themselves are definately worth seeing live and one of the few bands that give you a real performance. A lot of bands, in my experience sound boringly indistinguishable from their album or disappointingly just don't live up to it. Scarlet Soho sound amazing on Divisions of Decency, but still bring a different, excitingly more raw quality live. They have that energy that makes a live gig an experience, but still maintain a mysterious allure from the spotlit glow and smoke of the stage.
I won't attempt to deny that the main attraction for newbie fans of the band seems to be the Shirley Manson-esque bassist, Scarlet, who is as stunningly beautiful in a smoky pub after a gig as she is in the ethereal glow of the pictures below. Jim Knights' intense stage presence and immaculate vocals still continue to draw a growing loyal fanbase in London and Southampton where they play the majority of their gigs, and new addition, the androgynous Nicky Haynes' smooth synth playing mirrors Scarlet's cool mystique from the other side of the stage, giving the band a definate air of intrigue that makes them a must-see live.
==== The Album ===
Every track on this album is as catchy as it gets, with quirky drum machine beats, smooth synth melodies and Jim's Mansun-esque vocals. If I had to pick favourites, they would be We Must Destroy, Skin Trade and City Behaviour for sheer danceability. If I could choose the playlist for any of my local clubs, this band would dominate it completely. They are one of those bands that even if you're just sitting at your computer writing a review for Ciao, you'll find yourself dancing in your chair without realising.
Tracklisting
1. abstract composition (part 1) 2. we must destroy 3. modern radio 4. skin trade 5. procreation: self abuse 6. reveal 7. programmed to perfection 8. disconnected 9. isolation 10. city behaviour
The first time I heard this band was after the release of the Isolation EP a few years ago. A few London-based friends of mine had been raving about them for as long as I could remember and when one of my friends, reviewing the EP for his webzine sent me Tried, Tested & Failed to listen to, I instantly fell in love. I'd never really listened to this kind of music before. I've always been an indie girl, enchanted by acoustic guitars and twinkly pianos, so this was something special to grab my attention from my world of gigs you went to to socialise and the only motivation for getting to the front of the crowd being the comfort of leaning on the railing as you swayed. I'd never honestly danced to live music before. I'd bopped and swayed and had a rather unsuccesful attempt at moshing at my very first gig: Jimmy Eat World when I was 13, being barely five-foot I was lucky to escape with only the one bruise and mild concussion. The first time Scarlet Soho came within thirty miles of my town though, I was there. The Jug of Ale in Moseley, Birmingham. You probably won't have heard of it, which is why there were only about 30 people in the room, half of which had come to see the other two bands on that night, local bands who were your loud guitar generic rock types. The room didn't quite know what to make of this, rather incongruous electro band but we were there at the front, dancing and having a genuinely awesome time and by the end of the set, most of the crowd were converted too.
If you're a fan of 80s electro, you will love Scarlet Soho. If you've never really had an opinion on the genre, but remain open-minded about music (the best way to be),. you'll be pleasantly surprised.
Tour info and free songs here = http://www.myspace.com/scarletsohouk I definately reccomend you go listen - what have you got to lose? It's streaming mp3s so you don't have to wait for anything to download and there are new and old songs to choose from. You won't be disappointed ^_^
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