Cruel World 2024: Why Soft Cell Stole The Show
The sun was blazing down and I had just waited 30 minutes for my hamburger. It started to feel like a cruel world (pun intended) as I had blistered feet and an empty stomach. When I sat down for the start of Soft Cell's set, I knew after my final bite I would be up and dancing. Cruel World Fest had a killer lineup this year with the likes of Blondie and Duran Duran topping the bill. But what I didn't know was that Soft Cell, the 80s synth-pop group, was going to blow me away.
Of course I love their hit song "Tainted Love", but other than that and "Say Hello, Wave Goodbye" I was not fully versed with Soft Cell's discography. That is until Saturday night. Songs like "Insecure Me", "Chips On My Shoulder" not only had me dancing, but I even listened to them on the car ride home, I just couldn't get enough. The song "Nostalgia Machine", that just came out in 2022, is not a failed attempt by Soft Cell to hold on to their glory days. Instead, this song proves that the group has not lost their touch. With the right amount of 80s flare and fun lyrics, "Nostalgia Machine" was the perfect festival number as frontman Marc Almond had everyone singing along and hitting the "woos" each chorus. And his voice is just as good as it was in 1981.
And then there was the feature of drag artist Christeene, an addition that could've been gimmicky but instead seasoned the right amount of camp into numbers "Nighthawks" and "Sex Dwarf". I also have to give props to backup singers Kelly Barnes and Bryan Chambers who's vocals blended perfectly with Almond's and equally shined in their solo moments. Extra shoutout to Kelly as she did double duty at Cruel World, performing earlier in the day with Heaven 17.
When it came time for "Tainted Love", Almond told the crowd "I'm not going to sing this one because you all are" and that we did. The sun set and the night quickly turned black to match most of the audience's fashion choices...
As I looked back on the festival, I was surprised to realize other than "Tainted Love", Soft Cell's entire set was new to me! But it didn't feel like it. That's what made it so good. I was not bored, but rather excited to learn these songs and on my toes between each one, wondering what would come next. It was a pleasure to experience and I haven't been this wowed in a long time. Blondie came on next and boy did they have a tough act to follow. And dare I say it, they were outshined by Soft Cell.