A Second First South Central Album

South Central - Society Of The Spectacle

(released April 4th 2011 on Egregore)

The story of our webzine 100% Sucre is deeply connected to South Central. They were the first band we ever interviewed and we were head over heels when we first saw them live, just as many other fans were. Correct me if I am wrong but I think they are the only band to have played three consecutive times at the Rencontres Trans Musicales- in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

They were playing at the Citizen Party in Rennes last Friday. It was an opportunity to chat a little bit and get our hands on their last record.

In 2009, this English duet- they are actually from Malta, but let’s pretend they are bi-nationals- had released their first album, which was not an album per say. The Owls of Minerva gathered the songs that had previously been released as singles. As Rob says, “it has become a true record, as the songs fit together and create meaning”.

On April 4^th, Society Of The Spectacle will finally be out, after many years of waiting. It will be released on their own label called Egregore, and will feature A Place To Bury Strangers on The Moth, and Gary Numan, APTBS’s leader, on Crawl. The record scored number one in Japan for three days, just before the tsunami changed the order of things.

A record like this one makes you want to dance all along, that is for 48 minutes. We will travel from one song to another, but I still believe that you have to listen to the records yourselves- music cannot be described; you have to listen to it.

It starts with the powerful Nu Control, where a disembodied voice repeats for about five minutes that it controls a “big sound”. It almost makes me feel uncomfortable.

Then The Day I Die plays; it sounds more like pop. Some people were shocked by the video clip; I think it is meaningful, especially when considering what is going on in the world. It deals with fighting against death.

Bionic is the hip hop song of the record. It tells the story of a bionic and psychotic man.

The next song is a classic; it had already been released a few years ago. We all are Demons. You will not be able to resist it.

A deep voice whispers S.O.S. into your ears. The initial of all the sentences in this song are S.O.S.

Do not have regrets otherwise there is No Way Back. I picture a video clip with monks for this song.

The Fourth Way is an instrumental- one of those who send you to another world.

Now that you are in a trance state, the thumping Paris In The Twentieth Century will eventually calm you down. It is a very sensual song.

Anima, which means “spirit” in Latin, does deal with a spirit.

Then the genius Gary Numan arrives and he has many questions to ask about Keith and Rob’s music. He can Crawl really well among the devastating rhythmic.

The title track Society of the Spectacle is an instrumental in which South Central’s knowledge and style are fully expressed. It is a masterpiece.

Take a bite of A Place To Bury Strangers –they’re happiness- and add some South Central; you get ecstasy. The Moth is definitely a hit.

Let’s hit the replay button!

I would like to say a few words about the artwork. The album cover is divided into three parts. Some of the songs’ lyrics are written on the sleeves. The theme of the pictures is the eye - they scare me.

South Central is not done yet. Their next record is already being prepared and they promised that they would release it soon. They will also be touring with musicians. In the meantime you can go see the best electro band of the world – according to me, but also to Jean-Louis Brossard, director of the Trans Musicales- live around the country.

By Josephine. Traduction By Comete