Albums by this artist

Anomie And Bonhomie (2000)

Scritti Politti

Anomie And Bonhomie

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» TROY CARPENTER | CO-DIRECTOR

Scritti Politti Anomie And Bonhomie Virgin, 2000 RiYL: Thompson Twins, Human League, Mos Def

At 43, elusive hip-popster Green Gartside doesn't look a day over 25. What a better way to celebrate than release his fourth album as Scritti Politti -- his first in 11 years -- and better yet, to make its primary motif that of hip-hop.

This was the band, if you don't recall, that had its biggest hit record 15 years ago with Cupid And Psyche 85, a prime candidate for the epitomic album of '80s synth-pop. Before that, in their earliest incarnation, Scritti Politti ("political writing" in Latin) were avant-garde punksters.

But now Gartside, having shed nearly all trace of his former collaborators, presents Anomie And Bonhomie, a wonderfully odd collection of tunes that brings yet another musical theme to the forefront of his repertoire. Based primarily on hip-hop rhythms and raps, Anomie's songs are spiced with just enough smooth, slicing guitar riffs and splashes of Gartside's cotton-candy voice to make the record recognizable as his work.

But some new friends take a big part of the vocal spotlight: Lee Majors, Me'shell Ndegeocello, and the inimitable Mos Def contribute raps to more than half the album's songs.

Gartside makes the most of this unconventional recipe for music. Anomie's songs are shamelessly poppy, yet somehow also credible as real hip-hop. Everyone involved seems to contribute honestly and generously, and the results speak for themselves.

It's hard to imagine any of these tunes being hits on the scale of Cupid's "Perfect Way," since the elements involved (schmaltzy pop and tough rap) are extreme enough to turn off each other's usual core audiences. But this is an impressive effort on all fronts. It's exciting to see a creative spark such as Gartside's emerge from a long dormancy and create something as compelling as this.

TROY CARPENTER | Troy Carpenter founded NATN from a Chicago apartment during the ambitious winter of 1998 with co-conspirators Ben French and Jonathan Cohen. After a five-year stint in New York, he and wife Lourdes have recently relocated to Indianapolis, where he spends days listening to music and nights in the kitchen at Elements restaurant. Musical heroes: Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Super Furry Animals. What else makes life worth living: Sushi, Phucty, runs in the park, and the Atlanta Braves.