Soft Cell - Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret

Without a doubt and with no need for hyperbole, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret is one of the greatest albums ever recorded in any era on any planet. Marc Almond is at the top of his craft here, guiding the listener through the seamier parts of town and the darkest corners of the human psyche as David Ball's understated and hypnotic synth melodies drone on. Trace? That's a laugh!

Humor, tragedy, pathos, angst, irony, silvery... it's all here with even a few genuine hits thrown into the mix, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret delivers the goods and more. The lyrics are smart, funny and unforgettable and Almond embues them with palpable and genuine emotion. The performance and themes taken as a whole leaves one with the impression that Marc Almond circa 1982 was a total nutter, one psychotic break shy of permanent residency in the madhouse. And I mean that in a good way!

This recording is as fresh and engaging as it was nearly 30 years ago. The only thing that could possibly have made it aany better would have been the inclusion of Persuasion (an unsettling descent into madness) and Fun City (it's not). This has been addressed in the 2008 Deluxe Edition.

Even the most jaded cynic or misguided 80s hater would be defenseless when confronted by the irresistable hooks comprising Sex Dwarf. ("Sex Dwarf, isn't it nice? Luring disco dollies to a life of vice.") The video version apparently violated decency standards worldwide and it was disappeared down the memory hole. A pity, really.

What an amazing album this is some twenty plus years after its release.It's sometimes easy to forget what a vital part Marc Almond and Dave Ball played in the developpment of pop music.
This album sits very neatly, but somewhat uncomfortably, in between punk and new wave but manages delicatly not to be one or the other.It's an album whos theme documents the highs and lows of everyday life but in honesty not a life most of us lead.Still it's easy to connect the dots and find yourself drawn into Marc Almonds stories of paranoia,depravity and boredom.It's a dark album, but it's a fun album.At times it's angry but never too serious.Some days I consider it a party album and then on other days I'm more comfortable hearing it in the dark with a glass of red wine for company.It's an album of many characters and thus never uninteresting or tiresom to be around.