Project Description
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SOFT CELL
+ Marc Almond
@ Fortitude Music Hall,
Brisbane,
15th April 2025
(Live Review)
Review and photos by Alec Smart (@alecsmart_fotos)
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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1980s synth-pop band Soft Cell performed their chart-topping 1981 album Non Stop Erotic Cabaret at Fortitude Musical Hall in Brisbane on 15 April on their first-ever Australian tour. The influential duo, accompanied by a saxophone player and two backing vocalists, were supported by Soft Cell’s charismatic singer, Marc Almond, and his own 5-piece band. (Both acts shared the same two backing vocalists).
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Marc Almond, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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For his solo set, black-clad Almond (who has two recently-added silver incisor teeth in his smile!) performed a few self-penned songs from his 27 solo albums, plus a selection of classic covers. The latter included his unexpected hit, Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart, a song recorded by 60s crooner Gene Pitney in 1967, which Almond re-recorded in 1988 and invited Pitney to add guest vocals. It subsequently topped the UK music charts.
Almond finished his solo set with La Chanson de Jackie, the English language version of the 1965 song by Belgian actor and singer Jacques Brel, which Almond released on his 1991 album Tenement Symphony. (Previously, in 1989, Almond released Jacques, a tribute album of Jacques Brel songs that he had translated into English.)
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Marc Almond, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Almond apologised for his inability to tour Australia during the peaks and dips of his long career. “For so many years I wanted to come – but they [concert promoters] just didn’t want me! Then 46 years passed! They really only wanted Soft Cell.
“So, I said I’d be my own support for this tour. I have my lovely band with me – I’m the support act!”
Incidentally, Marc Almond now lives in Portugal, having relocated there from Moscow in 2022, in protest at Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Soft Cell were creatively active between 1978-1984, releasing three albums before going on hiatus for 16 years. Although the duo of Marc Almond and David Ball reunited between 2000-2005 and released another album, they then parked their musical partnership for another 13 years until their 2018 reunion – which they’re still touring.
Almond also revealed that his guitarist in his solo band is Neal X, formerly of Sigue Sigue Sputnik (who’s also toured with Adam Ant).
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Marc Almond, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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After a break, Almond returned onstage in a buttoned-up trench-coat with Soft Cell keyboardist and fellow songwriter David Ball (who has also worked with Psychic TV and their bizarre singer, the late Genesis P-Orridge). They both wore dark sunglasses throughout the Soft Cell performance.
The original duo – plus backing vocalists Bryan Chambers and Kelly Barnes and an occasional saxophonist – performed their influential debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret in full, plus a few bonus songs.
The album followed the same sequence as it was originally recorded; thus the stand-out track that gained them international recognition, Tainted Love, which might otherwise be expected as the night’s finale, appeared early as the second song in their set.
But a surprise was in store [see last paragraph below]…
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Tainted Love (composed by Ed Cobb of American group The Four Preps) was originally recorded in 1964 by American soul singer Gloria Jones. However, Soft Cell arguably recorded the definitive version that remains a guaranteed party starter for lovers of 80s pop music.
Thereafter we heard the familiar collection of songs that represented the two predominant themes of the Erotic Cabaret album: sleaze and social alienation. Meanwhile, the backdrop behind the performers featured images illustrating the songs, such as red light district posters advertising strip shows, and night-time film footage of gloomy, rainy London streets.
Of the aforementioned themes, the former included tracks Seedy Films, Sex Dwarf and Secret Life. The latter was elicited by Bedsitter (about dwelling in cramped premises, awaiting emotional escape through the highlights of night-clubbing), and the evocative Say Hello Wave Goodbye.
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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The lyrics of Say Hello, Wave Goodbye, about the break-up of a doomed relationship, are especially catty and somewhat dated in their venom. It features lines that feminists would rightfully argue are particularly condescending to women.
“It was a kind of so-so love… You and I had to be the standing joke of the year… You were a sleep-around… You’re used to wearing less and now your life’s a mess, so insecure you see.
“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… Take a look at my face for the last time. I never knew you, you never knew me, say hello goodbye, wave goodbye…”
Nevertheless, it’s a sweet and melancholic tune, and among Soft Cell’s most successful and unforgettable songs. I was surprised to see many women in the audience singing the sad words with considerable emotion, perhaps remembering similar past relationship breakdowns.
During Seedy Films, Almond had a cheeky mid-song banter with his two backing vocalists, humorously accusing Kelly of being a stripper on the stage of London Soho’s infamous Raymond Revuebar, then declaring credit card receipts revealed Bryan had attended those shows.
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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After the band completed reprising the Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret album (and a stage-hand brought on a stool for Almond to sit upon), we were treated to a few additional numbers.
No songs from their 2002 comeback album, Cruelty Without Beauty, were performed, however, Purple Zone, from their recent 2022 album Happiness Is Not Included, was included in the four-song encore.
The catchy track, about the sadness of growing old, was originally released in a musical collaboration with the Pet Shop Boys.
Of the Pet Shop Boys, Almond quipped: “Soft Cell are the most influential synth-pop duo, whereas Pet Shop Boys are the most successful synth-pop duo. I say that without an ounce of bitterness!”
Purple Zone was followed by Memorabilia, which included additional lyrics from Madonna‘s Into the Groove and Like a Virgin and Kylie Minogue’s Can’t Get You Out of My Head and Spinning Around.
The grand finale, which inspired most of those on the downstairs dancefloor, and a few of those in the upstairs chairs, into dancing, was an extended reprise of the band’s signature song, Tainted Love. The lengthy version segued mid-way into The Supremes’1964 hit Where Did Our Love Go, before returning to Tainted.
Watch Marc Almond’s latest music video, I’m Not Anyone, (released July 2024) here.
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Soft Cell
Set List
Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret
Frustration
Tainted Love (Gloria Jones cover)
Seedy Films
Youth
Sex Dwarf
Entertain Me
Chips on My Shoulder
Bedsitter
Secret Life
Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Encore
Torch
Purple Zone
Memorabilia
Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (The Supremes cover)
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Marc Almond, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Marc Almond
Set List
The Stars We Are
Tears Run Rings
My Hand Over My Heart
Child Star
A Lover Spurned
Stories of Johnny
Black Heart (Marc and the Mambas cover)
Elusive Butterfly (Bob Lind cover)
Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart (Gene Pitney cover)
The Days of Pearly Spencer (David McWilliams cover)
Jacky (Jacques Brel cover)
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Check out Alec Smart’s (@alecsmart_fotos) full gallery of this event HERE
Check out Dan Turner’s (@dapperdanphoto) full gallery of the Sydney event (Enmore Theatre, 13th April 2025) HERE
Check out Adrian Thomson’s (@_awii_) full gallery of the Perth (Riverside Theatre, 10th April 2025) event HERE
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Soft Cell, Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane. Photo: Alec Smart
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Follow SOFT CELL
Website – Instagram – Facebook – X
Soundcloud – Spotify
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