Scritti Politti came to indie prominence after punk - forming at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977.
I recall the stripped down originality of the song arrangements of their 1982 album “Songs To Remember” - but the subject matter intrigued me.
No other bands named themselves (with a subtle change of spelling) after a concept , political theorist Antonio Gramsci had written about.
Indeed the concept of hegemony and the French-Algerian philosopher Jacques Derrida was also name checked.
The vibe was similar to early The The and the “Soul Mining” record from early 1983.
However , principal songwriter Green Gartside embarked on a fearless change in direction- dumped the Marxist ideology and political theory of the subject matter - as well as the original band - and instead moved from the UK to New York, signed to Virgin Records (in UK) and Warner Brothers (in USA) ,working with American musicians and American influences.
He embraced smooth American funk and reggae as well as hip hop influences and released the massive hit album in 1985 “Cupid and Psyche 85”.
Co-produced with (legendary Atlantic Records arranger/producer) Arif Mardin this glossy album spawned numerous very catchy hit singles “Wood Beez” , “The Word Girl” and “Absolute”- were the big 3 hits.
Collaborations would follow with Miles Davis and Chaka Khan.
The production and original songs and melodies are sublime and still hold up to this day.
The follow up album “Provision” in 1988 is equally noteworthy in developing a new genre : synth funk.
Miles Davis added the perfect muted trumpet to a track as well.
It was such a long way from the early beginnings at Leeds Polytechnic in 1977!
Go check them out : Green Gartside was and is a principled songwriter without compromise.