Customer Reviews

Early

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This compilation of first releases from Scritti Politti are a luxury to ownership on cd. The earliest account of Gartside's music challenges uncertainty and despair. This is no way the formula to Joy Division equating solitude, because the matrix on EARLY is somewhat baffling. Britain's political repression still played a part in everyday life, and although I was not there, thanks to music, the kids picked up pens and instruments and made many small stands. Tom Morely (schoolmate, drummer and Marxist) was noted to challenge Green's political views enough for them to pick up instruments. With Nial Jinks (bass), the trio released Skank Bloc Bologna. The opening sounds like a Josef K lick, and that is where the specific comparisons ends. The general influence of early SP includes all forms of British pop, with hints of reggae/ska. Independently, Skank sold 2,500 copies. Not bad for a band who rubber-stamped the records themselves. Rough Trade ended up taking over the record, helping them sell an additional 15,000 copies. The rest was history, a relationship with Rough Trade that built some of the most abstract music and lyrics that contributed to the era. During the time of these releases, SP toured with Joy Division and Gang Of Four (I want a time machine).

EARLY is serious and fun, hopeful and hopeless. Tracks 8 through 13 come with a spoonful of sugar that ultimately leads us to the transition of Songs To Remember.

Seems like it's always been hip to be politically liberal. But Green Gartside's erudition and wit set him above the knee-jerk hordes, making this Scritti Politti compilation revolutionary in every sense. Gentler than punk, sparer than new wave, quirkier than dub, and far more intelligent than campus sloganeering, when you hear this eccentric release you will forgive Scritti Politti for succumbing to the lure of commercialism.

I have always been made fun of for my fascination with Scritti, but then I always saw them as a changing entity loosly held together by Green's changing musical moods/accomplishments, not just as the pop group of Cupid. His lyrics have always been great to read, and weird to hear-a satisfying suprise of non-conformist writing. As deconstructed as the early work is, it makes sense not only for the time in which it was written, but it also fits with the whole Scritti catalogue. Cool stuff, and fun to listen to.

Scritti Politti was always popular in the UK. They were known as a student band from Leeds that had much to do with bands such as Wire and Gang of Four. Green Gartside went on to do more popular music in 1985 with "Perfect Way." He was lumped in with people like Duran Duran and New Order, people he had nothing to do with. Scritti Politti always seemed a bit smarter than all that. They had a song called "Jacques Derrida." It sounds are minimal and may have something more in common with bands like Au Pairs and The Slits, than some of the punk bands they were inspired by. They were living in a squat in Camden Town back when this was recorded. Camden Town was not the nice place it is now. Some songs are a bit throwaway. They used radio broadcasts on one song instead of vocals, which sounds like an early case of sampling. Other songs song like jazz noodling. Only "The Sweetest Girl" sounds like a real song, and has anything to do with their later work. This is a record for all those post punk completionists.

Scritti Politti are one of my all-time favorite bands, so it's very nice that Rough Trade saw fit to finally releases these early vinyl-only EPs on CD for clarity & posterity, seeing as the old 12"s used to go for mucho dollar on ebay. Honestly, I am not sure how much you can really "listen" to these early art-rock-political experiments, but they're nice to have to complete your collection - toward the end, you can clearly hear Gang of Four/Wire-type noise gradually giving way to more studied, technically-precise professionalism, and later even "pop" as it were, i.e. the early take of Sweetest Girl, where Green finally found his "voice" - I prefer later Arif Mardin/Chic-inspired CDs like Cupid & Pysche 85 or Provision, but you can't go wrong here. A lot of bang for the buck. I just hope Green Gartside returns with a NEW Scritti full length before the decade is over?

...and these likely lads were brimming with it. Before the polished pop of "Perfect Way," Green and Co. made pretty-perfect noise. These early Scritti songs are thick with playful smarts, and they can make a fan out of nearly anyone. Newborn singles like "Skanc Bloc Bologna" and the aforementioned "Confidence" will needle into your brain/heart and never give up residency. Arch, experimental and still totally welcoming.

I have always enjoyed Scritti Politti from my boom there she was days of technicolored spiked hair and oval hats to his wood beez. I bought Black beer and couldn't stop listening to that cd and came accross this cd. I had to have it and am happy to have it in my collection. I have listened but this cd is not for everyone. It is truly a reminiscent cd of his earlier days. Although my friends have not grown to like the Early CD they do enjoy some of his other works I throw in. Keep this cd in your closet for true Scritti fans only.

The Sweetest Girl was covered by Madness -- a great tribute to this amazing band.