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Rating:
Oneiric Review Part. 1
Technical review test.
It's late, I can feel it, I should get my ass out of bed but I just can't...hmm
The alarm didn't go off today either, figures, who knows what time it is...
I reach for the stereo and press play... let's hope we left a suitable CD in the player for the difficult awakening...
A shaker rouses me from my stupor... but it's "Seedy Films"! So the selected CD must be "Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret"... I got really lucky, I think, as a sax solo fitting perfectly with the song kicks in, I'm happy, I can even seem to smell coffee....RANDOM.
Kick and roll of drum machine, off-key synth phrase with a portamento effect..."Sex Dwarf"!
I fall back asleep for a second: I'm on TV at Sarabanda with headphones on, competing in a special episode on techno-pop and I know all the answers, pressing the button like a flash, galvanized by Almond's voice, I answer: Get the Balance Right! Let Me Go! Situation! Turn your back on Me! The audience is in a frenzy. My dad watching from home tries to send texts to friends... RANDOM.
More drum machine, but it's the same as before, I tell myself in a state of semi-sleep, then I remember the album in question is from 1981, I think I can justify this sort of compositional laziness, after all we're talking about Soft Cell, the bassline kicks in and the synth line repeated in a loop by the arpeggiator, I want to tap my foot but I have two blankets and a duvet weighing me down, I open one eye for a second, while a voice is proclaiming: «Don't you feel guilty, don't you feel pity...» hmm this is "Chips on my Shoulders", another one of my favorites...RANDOM.
Now I'm awake and sitting on the bed recognizing the notes of "Bedsitter", what a coincidence, not even in dreams... sure this rockabilly guitar is really cool, wedged into this electronic ballad, this is a great album yes, I have time to realize and collapse again, RANDOM.
I open my eyes and I'm on the deck of the Love Boat serial ship, we're leaving the port and there's a crowd waving, the whole scene unfolds in slowmotion, rolls of toilet paper tossed from the dock to the ship float in the air with a certain elegance, but I can't hear the people's voices, in the background there's another Soft Cell ballad: "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye", hmm, all this romance seems absolutely fitting given the situation, I only have time to shout Hello! yet unable to make any sound. RANDOM.
This time the synthetic drum sounds have a tribal feel... it's Marc singing still: «... I collect, I reject, ...», "Memorabilia"... of course because in the CD version there are also Extra tracks, I remind myself, extra tracks are a nice thing, my favorite besides "Memorabilia" is definitely "...So", one of the most successful instrumental pieces of the '80s, but there are so many great tracks on this CD, maybe it's time to write a recenDRIIIIIIN!
The phone rings and I jump out of bed, Damn! It's late! Hurry! I have a review to write, I have it all here in my mind, I just dreamed it... but, wait a minute... which one was it?
...there you go, I knew it... I already forgot.
END
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Frustration (04:10)
Fr..fr...fr...frustration!
Frustration
Frustration
I have life
Ordinary wife
I have car
A favourite bar
I have job
A moderate wage
I get the pains
That come with age
I am so ordinary
I have child
She goes wild
I have home
A mortgage of my own
I have hobby
But it's nothing very special
I do the garden
I watch girls
I am so ordinary
I have life
I have cage
I'm going bald
I want to tell the world
I've done nothing
I've achieved nothing
I work for a firm
But I want to burn it down, down
I am so ordinary
I am so ordinary
I was born
One day I'll die
There was something in between
I, I don't know what
Or why
I'm a man
I want to break a rule
I am a no, no, no, no, no, no, nobody
Everybody's fool
I am so ordinary
Frustration (x4)
I'm so tired of endless art
Love stories
I'm beginning to not give a damn
I wish I could reach right out for the untouchable
Film starring Bruce, John Wayne, Elvis Presley
Experiment with cocaine, LSD and set a bad bad example
Live a little, run a harem, be a tiger
Meet Bo Derek and be her Tarzan
Reach, reach out out
Live, live, live
Die, die, die
I, I, I, I wanna die...
Frustration, oh
Frustration (x3)
I wanna die
I wanna die, die, die, die
die, die, d..d..d..die, die, die
Frustration
I wanna die
02 Tainted Love (02:34)
Sometimes I feel I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
From the pain that you drive into the heart of me
The love we share
Seems to go nowhere
And I've lost my light
For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night
(chorus)
Once I ran to you (I ran)
Now I'll run from you
This tainted love you've given
I gave you all a boy could give you
Take my tears and that's not nearly all
Oh...tainted love
Tainted love
Now I know I've got to
Run away I've got to
Get away
You don't really want any more from me
To make things right
You need someone to hold you tight
And you think love is to pray
But I'm sorry I don't pray that way
(chorus...)
Don't touch me please
I cannot stand the way you tease
I love you though you hurt me so
Now I'm gonna pack my things and go, things and go(3x)
...
Tainted love, tainted love (3x)...
Run away i've (3x)...
Need someone (4x)...
(interlude)
Tainted Love (4x)
Touch me baby, tainted love (x2)
Tainted love (x4)
03 Seedy Films (05:04)
Sleazy city
Seedy films
Breathing so heavy
Next to my neighbour
Let's get acquainted
Getting to know you
Feeling sleazy
In seedy sin city
Feeling sleazy
In seedy sin city
Sleazy city
Sleepy people
Down in your alleys
Seems that anything goes
Blue films flicker
Hands of a stranger
Getting to know you
And I'm getting to like you
Hey that's fine
Got no time
Meet me on Friday
Down, down, down in blue city
Got no address
Just a telephone number
Phone me tonight
And maybe we can talk dirty
Phone me tonight
And maybe we can talk dirty
Sleazy city
Sleepy people
Down in your alleys
Seems that anything goes
Blue films flicker
Hands of a stranger
Getting to know you
And I'm getting to like you
Sleazy city
Seedy films
Breathing so heavy
Next to my neighbour
Let's get acquainted
Getting to know you
Feeling sleazy
In seedy sin city
Feeling sleazy
In seedy sin city
Sleazy city
Sleepy people
Down in your alleys
Seems that anything goes
Blue films flicker
Hands of a stranger
Getting to know you
And I'm getting to like you
Hey isn't that you on the screen
Isn't that you on the screen
(No that's not me)
Getting to know you
Getting to like you
etc...
04 Youth (03:15)
Youth has gone
I heard you say
It doesn't matter
Anyway
Don't hide the photos
Or turn off the lights
I'm quite sure we've both seen
Funnier sights
You
Sleep in a deep deep sleep
Beauty is skin deep
Youth has gone
Though we're still young
It's hard I know to believe
That I was somebody's son
The memories
Of what you once were
The memories of what
We both were
You
Sleep in a deep deep sleep
Beauty is skin deep
Youth has gone
And don't think I don't cry
We let ourselves slip
And now
I ask myself why
I'm on my own
And don't think I really mind
When after all
The years have been fairly kind
You
Sleep in a deep deep sleep
Beauty is skin deep
Sleep in a deep deep sleep
Beauty is skin deep
Youth...Youth...Youth...Sleep
05 Sex Dwarf (05:12)
Isn't it nice, sugar and spice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
I can make a film and make you my star
You'll be a natural the way you are
I would like you on a long black leash
I will parade you down the high streets
You've got the attraction
You've got the pulling power
Walk my doggie, walk my little sex dwarf
We can make a scene we'll be a team
Making the headlines sounds like a dream
When we hit the floor you just watch them move aside
We will take them for a ride of rides
They all love your miniature ways
You know what they say about small boys
Sex dwarf...
I'm in a Rolls Royce, look its so huge!
It's big and it's gold
With my dumb chauffer
Looking to procure, run little doggie
Lure a disco dolly
Run my little sex dwarf, I feel so lonely
Get my little camera, take a pretty picture
Sex dwarf, in a gold Rolls, making it with the dumb chauffer
Isn't it nice, sugar and spice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
Sex dwarf
Isn't it nice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
Sex dwarf...
We can make an outfit for my little sex dwarf
To match the gold Rolls on my dumb chauffer
We'll all look so good, we'll knock 'em cold
Knocking 'em cold in black and gold
We can have playtime in my little playroom
Disco dollies, my sex dwarf and my dumb chauffer
I would like you on a long black leash
You can bring me all the things I need
Sex dwarf
Isn't it nice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
Sex dwarf
Isn't it nice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
Sex dwarf...
Sex dwarf
Isn't it nice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
Sex dwarf
Isn't it nice
Luring disco dollies to a life of vice
06 Entertain Me (03:34)
Trying to please
All these people around me
Is trying to reach for the moon
(The Moon)
I see their faces looking so empty saying
I hope that they'll finish soon
(So Soon)
Could be a chat show
(Yap Yap Yap)
Could be a go go
Reaction would be the same
(The Same)
So here I go
Though why I don't know
Trying to prove myself again
Entertain me
I'm as blank as can be
And I've seen it before
And I've done it before
And I think that I like it
But no I don't like it
It just goes on over and over
And over and over and over again
I try to give them all of my best
And it's taking a turn for the worst
(Oh No)
Things going wrong
Start to sing the wrong song
I think that we must be cursed
(You Betcha)
Playing the wrong tune
Hitting the wrong note
This is where my nerves become frayed
It's falling apart
Why did we ever start
And do you think we'll be paid
(No No)
Entertain me
I'm as blank as can be
And I've seen it before
And I've done it before
And I think that I like it
But no I don't like it
It just goes on over and over
And over and over and over again
Over and over again
Build 'em up, knock 'em down (x5)
I see a movement
Down in the front row
Maybe it's just a mistake
She's smiling at me
(Hello)
But he's frowning at me
(Goodbye)
Which conclusion
Do I make
Fold all your arms
And look straight ahead
At this puppet on a string
You're feeling confused
But you've made a decision
You don't like anything
Entertain me
I'm as blank as can be
And I've seen it before
And I've done it before
And I think that I like it
But no I don't like it
It just goes on over and over
And over and over and over again
Build 'em up, knock em down (x4)
Entertain me
I'm as blank as can be
And I've seen it before
And I've done it before
And I think that I like it
But no I don't like it
It just goes on over and over
And over and over and over again
07 Chips On My Shoulder (04:06)
Chips on my shoulder
More as I grow older
Feel I owe a debt
For the things I don't get
I only miss out
(Well I was there before)
I sit in a corner
Sit on the floor
Chorus:
Misery
Complaints
Self Pity
Injustice
Chips on my shoulder
There's no time for fun time
It's sit and complain time
I'll talk about famine
While cooking the dinner
Don't you feel guilty
Don't you feel pity (No)
While my head gets fatter
And the starving get thinner
Chorus
I should have told her
I've chips on my shoulder
I'm making a stand
While I sit on my arse
Fish and chip supper
While those in the gutter
Can't have a good time
Fun's just a farse
Misery
Complaints
Self Pity
Injustice
Chips on my shoulder
Chips on my shoulder
Now sing it
08 Bedsitter (03:35)
Sunday morning going slow
I'm talking to the radio
Clothes and records on the floor
The memories of the night before
Out in club land having fun
And now I'm hiding from the sun
Waiting for a visitor
Though no-one knows I'm here for sure
Dancing laughing
Drinking loving
And now I'm all alone
In bedsit land
My only home
I think it's time to cook a meal
To fill the emptiness I feel
Spend my money going out
I've nothing in I'm left without
Clean my teeth and comb my hair
And look for something new to wear
And start the night life over again
Kid myself I'm having fun
I look out from my window view
There's really nothing else to do
Read a book maybe write a letter
Mother, things are getting better
Watch the mirror count the lines
The battle scars of all the good times
Look around and I can see
A thousand people just like me
Dancing laughing
Drinking loving
And now I'm all alone
In bedsit land
My only home
(x2)
Dancing, laughing, drinking, loving
I'm waiting for something
I'm only passing time
09 Secret Life (03:38)
In your little black book
You've got the names
And the favourite persuasions
Of the people in the headlines
I'm in there under A
And I'm rated under B
You've got photographs to prove it
And I swear to God it's not me
You've got a hard heart
Being hard is your art
You think love is a dirty dirty word
You pick up the phone
And you ring me when I'm at home
And then you put it down
And I'm reaching for my valium
My secret life
Living life
On a knife edge of life
Tell my wife
And she's just had a breakdown
And I
I'm not rich
But you know I'm top in my pitch
And you'll ruin the lot
Finish everything I've got
My secret life
Secret life
I'll give you anything
Anything to shut you up
Why do you hate me so much
What have I ever done to you
But leave you
I don't want to play
Cat and Mouse
Have the neighbours looking over At my house
All the secret smiles
When I walk in the room
And I think I'm going to
Crack up soon
I'm going to run away
Find a place in the dark
Where I don't have to hear
The nasty nasty talk
Change my sex
Change my hair
Be hard to find anywhere
My secret life
Living life
On a knife edge of life
Tell my wife
And she's just had a breakdown
And I
I'm not rich
But you know I'm top in my pitch
And you'll ruin the lot
Finish everything I've got
My secret life
Secret life
My secret life (x5)
10 Say Hello, Wave Goodbye (05:26)
Standing in the door of the Pink Flamingo, crying in the rain
It was a kind of so-so love and I'm gonna make sure it never happens again
You and I, it had to be the standing joke of the year
You were a sleeparound, a lost-and-found, and not for me I fear
I tried to make it work, you in a cocktail skirt, and me in a suit, well it just wasn't me
You're used to worry-less and now your life's a mess, so insecure you see
I put up with all the scenes and this is one scene thats going to be played my way
Take your hands off me
I don't belong to you, you see
Take a look at my face for the last time
I never knew you, you never knew me
Say hello, goodbye
Say hello, wave goodbye
Under the deep red light, I can see the make-up sliding down
Hey little girl, you will always make-up, so take off that unbecoming frown
What about me? Well, I'll find someone that's not going cheap in the sales
A nice little housewife, who'll give me a steady life and won't keep going off the rails
Take your hands off me
I don't belong to you, you see
Take a look at my face for the last time
I never knew you, you never knew me
Say hello, goodbye
Say hello, wave goodbye
We've been involved for quite a while now, and to keep you a secret, has been hell
We're strangers meeting for the first time, ok? Just smile and say hello...
Say hello, then wave goodbye
Say hello, then wave goodbye
Say hello, then wave goodbye
Say hello, then wave goodbye
Say hello, wave goodbye
Say hello, then wave goodbye
Say hello, say goodbye
Goodbye...
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Other reviews
By donjunio
Dave Ball was the mind. A brilliant multi-instrumentalist in love with northern soul, as well as a skillful weaver of synthesizer textures.
It’s precisely this lyricism - reminiscent of punk urgency - that gives the Soft Cell cabaret that something extra that makes it shine 25 years after its release.
By mbattu59
This opening track alone... is enough to make Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret one of the milestones of electronic/dance music of the '80s.
For me it’s a small masterpiece, which I recommend everyone to listen to (or re-listen to) and whose relevance... seems to me to be beyond dispute.
