SCRITTI POLITTI
Early (Rough Trade)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Near the end of this album comes the transition single "The Sweetest Girl." It's a fragile piece of pop: a delicate balance of whisper vocals, dub bass, cymbal brushing and special guest Robert Wyatt caressing his keyboards. It's the transition point where Scritti Politti turned from angular minimalist trio into a soulful pop band, defining their career as a much loved British band, though criminally neglected in North America. Early is a nice overview of the uh, early material so hard to find. Most of it is choppy, jerky, didactic and too damn exploratory; making for a difficult but rewarding listen. An adventurous record for those willing to sacrifice some otherwisely banal leisure time.

© 2005 - John Sekerka