scritti politti – white bread, black beer
Got this last week. I was having a look at the Mercury Prize nominees for last year to see who had won. Last year I only got Thom Yorke’s album, The Eraser and was surprised to find that I hadn’t managed to get any others. I usually manage to get a few more. I did the year before any way.
When I saw Scritti Politti on the list I had to do a double take. If you are thirty something you’ll remember them from the eightys. Each time I go to bed. That one. Anyway, I had to have it as it brought back memories of my teens.
It’s the same voice and it just takes you back. It’s mellow and melodic but somehow sounds both classic and modern at the same time. Perhaps that’s just me listening with my nostalgic ears. I don’t know. Most are fairly ambient synth/keyboard ballads and some are much more rocky. Some of the tracks remind me a lot of Elliot Smith, especially "Mrs. Hughes". The vocal style, the melodies and arrangements could easily have been done by Mr. Smith.
This ones is a winner. If you want an eighties nostalgia trip and you like Elliot Smith then get this one. It grows on you too. On first listen I thought the bridge in Boom Boom Bap was a bit out of place, but after a few listens I think that it fits rather well. Most of the melodies are quite catchy too. My favourite line has to be "jesus, keep your love away from me". Great stuff. Long live Santa.