World of Chig   

2.11.01

SOFT CELL gig review - part three (Yes, it's backwards!)



First encore: Just one song: Say Hello, Wave Goodbye. “Here’s the sequel to the prequel we played earlier.” It sounds epic and magnificent, as it always did.

Second encore: a two song finale:
Martin: I’m close to orgasm as they launch into one of my favourites. I NEVER thought they’d do this. As luck would have it, I’m standing next to Ian’s friend Martin. Inevitably, it’s a shortened version of the ten minute masterpiece, but it still gives us the chance to shout “Martin” at random intervals in differently pitched voices. We think this is hilarious. We are also chanting “kill, kill” in the appropriate places, which seems mildly subversive. The stage lighting has gone blood red for this, and I am very drunk. It stays red for the final song:
Sex Dwarf: Wondered when they’d get around to this. So they saved their two most twisted songs for last. Fabulous. And it’s all over too soon.

The conclusion: Marc Almond genuinely seemed to enjoy himself, and so did the audience. His voice was great too. (Dave Ball was fairly expressionless throughout.) Anyone who’s read Tainted Life will know that Marc never felt they did justice to their songs in their early gigs, because the shows were too chaotic or because he was too drugged up. I’m sure this tour will finally bring a sense of closure for both of them. I thought it was fantastic. (9.5/10 – it would have been ten if it had been a few songs longer.)


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