Scarlet Soho (vocalist James Knights and bass/synth-ist Scarlet) has been locked in the studio for months working on the final installment of their ambitious EP trilogy. Well, ladies and gents the time has come. On September 19 this UK based electropop act dropped their third EP entitled Two Steps from Heartache. For someone who didn’t have the chance to grow up in the 80s, Two Steps from Heartache is a time machine built out of synths and melancholy vocals leaving you asking where you set your Aqua Net.
The EP opens with the title track “Two Steps from Heartache.” in which we had the honor of sharing the video with you all not too long ago. The track camouflages a very somber theme with an upbeat tempo. This is a trick or talent (depending on which way you observe) that Scarlet Soho is very talented at with their nods to those darker new wave bands of the 80s that clearly inspired them.
Another new track that appears on the EP is entitled “Professionals.” Be careful where you set your bass levels because it will shake you from your head to your toes. I can’t seem to put a finger on why I’m drawn to “Professionals” but one of the standout features is without a doubt the bridge. It lays down an amazing synth solo that gives me flashbacks to sitting in front of a 32 bit video game in the early 90s. Along with James’ vocals depicting violent, dark, and somber times, the song really brings on some haunting visuals. I’ll leave it to you to find out what comes to your mind’s eye.
Lastly, without giving too much away, there is a live version of one of the longtime favorites of Scarlet Soho fans called “Analogue Dialogue (kill the beat)” off their last album Warpaint. Now, I’ll be the first to say that I am always apprehensive of live recordings due to the acoustics in a performance hall being poor. For this recording , I am highly impressed. If it weren’t for a couple of claps and screams I would swear up and down that this was a studio recording. I might even like this one just a tad more than the original as it is one that will really fill your speakers.
You’re going to have to check this EP out for yourself to enjoy what else they have in store. With the release of the EP it has us staring at the calendar… is it 2015 yet?
Scarlet Soho on the web:
www.scarletsoho.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | MySpace
