Scritti Politti

Scritti Politti will be ringing in the new millennium with Anomie & Bonhomie, the band’s first full-length album in over a decade. Anomie & Bonhomie (which roughly translates as “despair and delight”) contains 11 new songs, all of them written, arranged and performed by brainchild and sole survivor Green Gartside. The album was recorded in 1997-1998 in New York and Los Angeles, and was produced by former Scritti Politti band member David Gamson. Anomie & Bonhomie is due on Virgin Records in early 2000.

Green, an astute music fan, enlisted the help of several hip-hop artists and musicians to help flavor the new album. Featured vocalists on the album include Mos’ Def and Lee Majors, along with chanteuse Me’Shell Ndegeochello. Other musicians featured on Anomie & Bonhomie are Wendy from Wendy & Lisa on guitar; Allen Cato, son of Sly Stone’s original guitarist on guitar; Abe Laboriel Jr. and JuJu House on drums; and Vere Isaacs, New York hip-hop/reggae artist on bass.

Anomie & Bonhomie marks the return of one of the best-loved pop groups of the 1980’s. Scritti Politti, formed in Leeds UK in 1978, and went on to release three commercially successful albums, (Songs To Remember, Cupid & Psyche 85, and Provision), as well as several charting singles including “Woodbeez (Pray Like Aretha Franklin),” “Hypnotise,” “The Word Girl,” “Oh Patti” and “Perfect Way.” In 1988, after an extensive promotional tour, Green put the band on hiatus and returned to Wales. He interrupted his bout of self-imposed exile to release
a single with dancehall reggae star Shabba Ranks in 1991.

Like Cupid and Psyche 85 and Provision, Green has once again captured the contemporary essence of pop music by combining lush soundscapes with hip-hop overtures. Q Magazine stated “this New York and Los Angeles-recorded opus seamlessly blends balladeering, raw-edged punk-funk and euphoric pop-soul flavors,” while The Sunday Times commented, “This new album is a stunning comeback…Green has lost none of his melodic talent…his voice is as pure and beautiful as ever.”

Anomie & Bonhomie is one of the truly great albums of the new millennium-treasure it! Green Gartside and company will be stateside mid-November to promote the record. Mark your calendars accordingly.