Scritti Politti Album: “White Bread Black Beer”

Make no mistake, this is not your Mother's Scritti Politti. Gone - if not especially missed - are the super-glossy, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink Fairlight arrangements and the frantic, frenetic dance beats of the mid-Eighties. But what remains unchanged is what makes this album so special. Gorgeous, lushly arranged multi-tracked vocals, smart ( but not smarmy ) lyrics and a batch of particularly strong songs all come together to make what is without a doubt the best pop album of the last year. Most of these songs float along on little more than gently strummed acoustic guitar and very deftly programmed, subtle electronic textures. Purposely lo-fi, the spartan instrumentation makes the vocals and lyrics stand out that much more. Several tracks remind me of opening up a jewel box - simple but incredibly melodic keyboard lines married to Green Gartside's ethereal and eternally young, sweet-sounding falsetto. A very few songs here approach anything sounding "modern" - the opening track "The Boom Boom Bap" features impossibly deep bass and a rhythm somewhere between minimalist hip-hop and dub reggae. "After Six" could be a Gorillaz track if they had a better lyricist and knew when to quit. And "Dr. Abernathy" rocks just a *little* bit. Apparently self-produced at home, " White Bread, Black Beer" has very obvious touchstones in the already mentioned Beach Boys ( the vocal harmonies ) and the Beatles ( the lyrics and melodies ). I also hear the dub productions of Lee Perry here, in that there is a real clear, clean space in the mix. Not every available spot on the tape is covered with sound, and what you DON'T hear is as important as what you DO hear. Fans of the "Cupid and Psyche '85" might be shocked, thinking Scritti Politti have taken a step backward by issuing such a low key, minimal sounding album, and "White Bread, Black Beer" does sound much more like their very early, pre-"Cupid..." recordings than anything else. But I think "White Bread" betters that pop masterpiece in every way. It is my favourite album of the last year, and Very Highly Recommended.

I've been a huge fan of Green since hearing EP'S so long ago. So needless to say I think this collection of songs is without a doubt very enjoyable! After the first listen, I thought, that was not what I expected, very laid back!! Upon further ventures into his new disc, all I can think of is, WOW, these are beautiful songs!! He has come up with some of the most, for lack of a better word, "PRETTY" sondscapes I've heard,well,forever! I'm not kidding!! I challenge anyone to give an open mind to this recording and not be moved. NOT GUSHING, but for my money this is what music is all about. The songs are all so textured, it makes me happy to know someone is out there who is willing to go deeper into his heart and soul to create such passion in mere minutes! Keep doing what you feel like doing Green Gartside, and I'll keep buying it!! Get this Music and you'll have years of great thoughts and I hope, inspiration for more peace in your lives. GET this DISC!!! I know I feel a whole lot better with WHITE BREAD BLACK BEER in my life. Thank You for your time.

This is a delicious fresh-sounding album with a classic Scritti sound - on the surface it has a summery lightness - but with darker undertones in the lyrics. Interesting & clever songwriting - and Green's voice is as good as ever.

Since discovering this album 3 months ago it is rapidly become one of my all-time favourites. After a couple of listenings the entire album becomes pure bliss, yet I was hooked the first time I heard the opening song.

The instruments and *that* voice sound gorgeous and Green Gartside has not lost his instinct for hitting the right notes and the pressing the right keys and wrap it up with impeccable production. Almost every song gives a rush of pleasure like biting into a piece of Belgian chocolate - and just as sweet. Or for those who adore Renoir's paintings, this may be the aural equivalent - it's lush, relaxed, warm, dreamy, romantic, gorgeous.

To say that some songs of this album - say Locked, Petrococadollar and Snow In Sun - are worth the price of the album would be a trite understatement. These are gems with the magic Scritti Politti touch that one would scour record shops around the country for. A soundscape with nice melodies and harmonies embellished by clever hooks, tempo changes, word plays and intonations is presented. Let us hope Green produces more of this type of music, which brings out his talent to full effect, instead of hip hop which hopefully remains an 'Anomalie'.

The album is laid back yet some songs swing with an infectious rhythm, example "Cooking" and "Robin Hood", and with the latter the album ends on a high - it fits perfectly as an ending track. Perhaps the piece de resistance is in the middle - Petrococadollar which is slow, atmospheric and totally mesmering. How do you follow up a showstopper like that? Answer: with the uptempo "E Eleventh Nuts" which gives instant satisfaction and we move on. The album's flow is excellent.

"WBBB" is an inconspicuous masterpiece so if you chanced upon this review I hope WBBB will become one of your best lucky finds. Definitely give this one a chance!

Note: the Amazon UK site has many more reviews of this album.

Since 1978, Scritti Politti has been made up of Green Gartside and whoever he's working with; in this fifth full-length release (seven years since the last), Gartside returns alone with tight over-dubbed harmonies and a host of varied influences distilled into a pop sound that's a little hard to define. The reggae-influenced rhythms reappear without sounding like reggae; an homage to hip-hop (track 1) couldn't sound less like hip-hop. I also catch bits of the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and echoes of the mid-eighties Scritti Politti that was, only without the dated sound. The ballads, which might have been insufferable, are actually quite wonderful; the up-tempo songs are as much fun as you'd expect. All in all, a complex album that's very easy to listen to.