Scritti Politti Songs to Remember LP

The debut album of one of Britain's most acclaimed and influential bands, Songs to Remember takes us back to the beginnings of Scritti Politti. Having emerged out of the DIY Camden bedsit scene of the late '70s, yet with a musical vision to match the likes of Miles Davis (who they later worked with), the Green Gartside-led group established themselves as one of the early '80s' true innovators as Songs to Remember channeled both the fiery politics of the era with a burgeoning pop sensibility.

Described as "witty and ingenious" by NME on its release in 1982, Songs to Remember has been fully remastered for this long overdue vinyl repressing, which has been personally overseen by Gartside himself.

Sometimes it sounds like T. Rex in miniature form ('Jacques Derrida'); sometimes it sounds like wannabe Dirty Mind-era Prince ('Sex'); sometimes it sounds like wannabe Young Americans-era David Bowie ('A Slow Soul'). Despite the well-intended but overt appropriations, there are moments of full-on glory that aren't sunk in their influences. The infectiously naïve 'Asylums in Jerusalem' matches sunny reggae with '70s Stevie Wonder; the blue-eyed soul of 'Faithless' is simply good, not simply red; and then there's the closing dessert of 'The Sweetest Girl,' a peerless block of lovers rock-inspired synth pop.