SPAGHETTI ROCK

-- Observer, January 1982

Words: Anthony Denslow

In this time of numerous neatly packaged, popular-music styles it is refreshing to stumble upon a group like Scritti Politti, an ambiguous and fresh-sounding pop collective from Camden Town, north London. For some while the band, which take their name from a corruption of the Italian for political writing, have operated from the nucleus of singer/songwriter Green Gartside, drummer Tom Morley and their manager. But for their first album, released this month by Rough Trade, and for future tours, a bevy of extra musicians and back-up singers has been necessary.

Tom and Green met as students at Leeds Art College where disillusioned with art education, they formed a punk band. Following the punk ethos of 'anything goes' Tom, who had never played an instrument in his life before, blew his last year's grant on a drum kit.

From such beginnings Scritti Politti have now lent their subversive hand to the more melodic field of pop music. Their current sound is euphonious and unusual, boasting a spread of influences from jazz to reggae. Led by Green's smooth vocals, the band plays distinct and innovative pop, music to listen as well as dance to. 'We got fed up with the progressive and rhetorical nonsense that abounds at present,' says Green. 'I think we've learnt to love pop and have let any idiosyncracies emerge by themselves.' Thus Scritti Politti have maintained a level of political awareness in their lyrics and are unafraid of the 'intellectual' tag that has been placed upon them. As Green puts it, 'People can't imagine that you can be clever, read philosophy, and talk politics if at the same time you can make good pop music, booze, and play the fool in a band.'

Scritti Politti have not performed live in this country for over two years. They have kept themselves busy preparing the album, gathering new material, even producing the artwork for their own posters and record sleeves. Touring is no longer the essential hard slog it was for a band to win a following, but Scritti Politti are now looking forward to live concerts with a newly embellished line-up.