Soft Cell’s 2002 reunion album Cruelty Without Beauty is being remastered and re-issued on digital, CD and vinyl.
The record, often regarded as an overlooked masterpiece by the group, will be released in an expanded and remastered 2x CD set and on digital formats on October 30th . It will come out on vinyl for the first time on the same day.
“Cruelty Without Beauty is one of my two favourite Soft Cell albums – a shiny pop production with subversive dark chords and a hint of world weariness,” says singer Marc Almond.
“The songs still sound relevant and fresh. Darker Times, Grand Guignol, Monoculture, Together Alone, and a track that is not only my favourite on this album but one of my preferred Soft Cell songs period: Last Chance – the natural successor to Say Hello, Wave Goodbye.”
Musician Dave Ball adds: “Marc and I went for a coffee and came up with the idea of writing for other people, or putting something out under a different name, but we soon realised that what we were producing could only ever be Soft Cell.
“The title was something I remembered from my college days. There was a shop by Leeds train station called Beauty Without Cruelty. Marc quickly reversed with his typical razor sharp humour.”
The entirely new package is further enhanced by extended mixes and live cuts from Leeds and London, and includes new 2020 versions of six album highlights: Monoculture, Together Alone, Darker Times, Last Chance, Le Grand Guignol and Caligula Syndrome, all newly updated by Dave Ball
Vinyl variants for the release include a pink LP and white remix EP. All album pre-orders placed with the group’s official store will receive an exclusive four postcard set featuring album artwork.
Previously unreleased as a single, Last Chance will be released as a lead track with a new video to follow shortly afterwards.
