Seminal electronic duo Soft Cell (Marc Almond/Dave Ball) celebrate their 40th year in 2018 with the release of their anthology through UMC on 7th September 2018. Entitled 'Keychains & Snowstorms: The Soft Cell Story', this ten-disc boxset features nine CDs and a DVD, encompassing both phases of their illustrious career from 1978 to 1984, and the 2001-3 reunion. It’s the story of 21 million records sold worldwide. 13 UK chart singles, five of them Top 10 hits, two gold and one platinum-selling albums.
This extensive, handsomely presented product has been a full two years in the making. Under the watchful eye of executive producers Dave Ball and Marc Almond, the boxset reveals over 130 tracks and over 12 hours of music. Alongside newly-remastered full 12” versions of all the Soft Cell singles and B sides, a large proportion of the audio content is previously unreleased, available only on bootlegs, or created especially for the anthology. ‘Keychains & Snowstorms’ is a genuine treasure-trove of art-school experimentation, memorable pop hits, ground-breaking club tracks and astute introspection from one of electronic music’s most thrilling and influential acts.
The DVD includes nearly four hours of high quality footage, including a complete Soft Cell live show recorded in Leeds in May 1981, just a few weeks before Tainted Love was released. Other highlights include UK TV performances, documentaries, interviews, promo videos and other rare material only previously available in inferior quality on You Tube.
The booklet includes a comprehensive essay by Simon Price based around new interviews with Marc and Dave, rare and unseen photos, notes from the duo, as well as quotes from Soft Cell collaborators and contemporaries, plus lyrics and other memorabilia.
Soft Cell play their final live concert at London’s O2 on 30th September 2018. The last remaining tickets are available below.
