Review Summary: An EBM take on 5 influential Soft Cell tracks, thoroughly solid and worthwhile for both Soft Cell and Leaether Strip fans.
Soft Cell were one of the most unique duo’s in synth-pop, and because of their exploration of darker themes and even darker sleazy sounds, to match Almond’s sinful lyrics, they were able to connect to those disillusioned with the straight ahead, pop-friendly electronic music of the time.
Anal Cabaret is a prime example of Soft Cell’s far reaching influence, despite Leaether Strip (fronted by Claus Larson) being far away from the ‘Cell in sound and theme. The simple fact that Larson decided to put out this tribute EP is a clear demonstration of aforementioned influence and the more you think of it the easier it becomes to understand. Leaether Strip’s dark-themed, electro-industrial seems like a natural progression of the debauchery and dramatised filth that Soft Cell tampered with in the early eighties, with tracks like ’Sex Dwarf’.
Larson does a thoroughly solid job across the 5 tracks he covers - ‘Sex Dwarf’ and ’Youth’ are particularly excellent with the former containing a bumped-up energetic rhythm that sounds familiar, yet distinct enough to be different from the original. His song choices are interesting, choosing rarer tracks like ’Insecure Me’ and even ‘Soul Inside’ from the very unpopular, dismal swansong that was 1984‘s ‘This Last Night in Sodom’, which genuinely ends up being more compelling than the original, by a smidge. The only real issue is the length of the album, featuring only 5 tracks it does leave perhaps a little too much to be desired.
Being a tribute to Soft Cell, and featuring (mostly) less well known tracks, Anal Cabaret is really only going to be of interest to two groups of people: Soft Cell fans looking to hear a modern electronic take on Soft Cell’s classics; and serious Leaether Strip fans who have to hear everything Larson puts out. Either group will undoubtedly find something satisfying in this short, but worthy Cover EP.
