If, this time last year, someone was to suggest that SCRITTI POLITTI were not only going to make a full on comeback, but also release another critical acclaimed album, eyebrows would certainly have been raised. But here they were. Well, actually Green Gartside is the only original member left of the current line-up... So there he was, in his full grey-suited glory (a-la Level 42, minus the rolled-up sleeves), at the front of a stage jam packed full of synths (there were seven), fretless 5-string basses, and myriads of different guitars.
Opening with the title track of his new album (“The Boom Boom Bap”) he wowed the audience with his high-pitched, gentle vocals (that sounded a bit like Phil Collins on occasion),and then proceeded to give the fans exactly what they wanted.The gig was a huge trip down memory lane, and why the hell not? Given that the majority of the audience comprised of die-hard life-long
fans, it seemed right and proper. Plus he was very generous on the encore front, giving the audience some fantastic renditions of his earlier hits, much to the joy of the hardcore fans in the room.
His sound is, essentially, still rooted in the R&B phase of his earlier work, but the harmonies were spot on, the playing was slick, and the banter was minimal but polite. For the fans, the gig was undoubtedly a success. There were moments when onlookers were subjected to Electronic Piano Hell, and the music did come across as fairly dated, but this is to be expected from a band that has essentially been around for nigh on 20 years.
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For people unfamiliar with their music, Scritti Politti are probably an acquired taste, but one that is definitely worth investigating, given the cleverness of the music, the intellectual lyrics, and the interesting history of the band.
Here’s a nice bit of trivia for you. Back in the day, Miles Davis was so impressed with Scritti Politti’s music that he covered their hit, “Perfect Way”. And Green Gartside's keyboardist is journalist Rhodri Marsden, who writes for the Independent as well.
That’s something to tell the grandkids.
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