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DROP DEAD MAGAZINE intro by D.J. Patrick of ALBION n.y.c. There are few periods in the history of recorded music that are remembered as fondly as the UK scene of the mid eighties, for fans of the Goth genre there was a plethora of bands that emerged so fast and furious that affectionados of this style are still trying to play catch-up. The fact that the Cure, Siouxsie, ASF, Nephilim, Sisters, The Mission, March Violets and countless others emerged from England is hardly surprising, this was a land that turned Punk and New Wave into pop music it gave Killing Joke, Pil and the Exploited top twenty albums, Siouxsie singles went top 20 with relative ease and something as dark and uncommercial as Pornography went all the way to number 7 on the National British charts. As unusual as it might of seemed at the time, In retrospect these bands flourished in an environment that fully embraced them. Now take the same era, but move the location to Southern New Jersey. The cultural landscape could not have been more unrelated, this was the land of Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen, where Miami Vice guided the fashion sensibility and Expose provided the soundtrack. In the middle of this wasteland, a home grown act emerged that looked and sounded like they had just been flown in from central London. They were the antithesis of everything that was surrounding them at the time, but yet managed to channel Goth with pin-point accuracy. For a brief moment it seemed like they would rightfully take their place alongside the U.S. Goth contingent that was gaining prominence at the time, with Christian Death doing a full U.S tour, Kommunity FK gaining MTV support and Of A Mesh playing in N.Y at the same clubs, but for some odd reason it was not to be, there were a few gigs at the early Goth mecca Danceteria and some articles in the early issues of Propaganda. The debut EP "Scriptures" was released in 1987 and became an instant classic, but a promised album never materialized and then there was just silence. As mysteriously as they appeared they just vanished back to the jetties of the Jersey Shore. In this pre-internet time info was impossible to come by, there were no regular updates or sightings. The years rolled on and a standout track from the Ep "The Love" became a dance floor classic in the NYC Goth clubs but info on their whereabouts was unattainable. That is until now: In mid 2005 a Screaming For Emily website appeared advertising a new CD. It was 'malice' the original debut album finally getting a proper release 17 years after it was recorded . It has now been unleashed along with the classic debut "Scriptures" on Cd for the first time. We have finally caught up with them and 20 years after their formation they give us some answers. New Wave Sound for The Nostalgic Surprisingly clean sound with such a New Wave appeal, this CD represents a nice example of the new interest for the good old sounds, which is ruling especially in the USA. Maybe not too much originality but surely a lot of quality. All the songs has a special decadent feature which makes them OK even for the darkest people. Voted a Top 10 Artist for 2006 Rising Stars List by our DJ's They've expertly captured the best elements of a very European sound, despite being an ocean away. Just the right mix of pop, goth, and new wave styles. While the standout track on Malice is "Deity", the other tracks are all good too. If the major labels weren't so busy being obsessed with Rap, Hip Hop, and lawsuits, they might have taken notice of Screaming for Emily and made them international stars. It's easy to imagine these guys being a featured artist on early MTV. This band should be famous, let's all help them get there! THESE THREE HAVE AWOKEN FROM A CRYOGENIC SLUMBER... MALICE is a curiosity; despite it being late 2005, this record exudes the atmosphere that these three have awoken from a cryogenic slumber to play their brand of gloomy post-punk for a new generation...porcelain synths add frozen atmosphere to the minimalistic DEITY, where dusty snares and thrums of bass accompany Sciortino's sultry, amorous croon. There's even the slight appearance of brassy horns with this standout track, an aspect that adds a bit of Romanesque pomposity to the side-winding reverence in its vocals. If such an incredible absence was required to spawn MALICE, I think it was definitely worth it... Incredibly suprised and delighted Not knowing what to expect from this band, I popped their new CD, MALICE, into the player. The sounds that came forth were comfortably edgy and transcend-al. Very few artists in the past two decades can make me want to hear their entire album again after the first go-through but SFE has been in heavy nonstop rotation on my player. Their deep sound, and swirling melodic beats makes for an excellent atmospheric choice in music. Especially if you like dancing to intelligent accompaniment...these guys are gooooood! Entrancing, rolling beat with mesmerizing vocals... The CD is called MALICE; Philip, Steven and Lance have definitely struck musical gold with each other. Theirs is the sound I just love for a low-key new wave groove fest. How about an entrancing., rolling beat with mesmerizing vocals. Deep and well, ruminating. Definitely has a goth dance edge to it... I don't even know who to compare them to. but I'll say this...SFE is not light NW pop at all. I really do like this album. I wish I could get a copy of the lyrics because there are some fabulous verbal stylings contained within. Philip's resonating baritone walks you slowly, and willingly down a darkening path in AGONY. After he starts off saying DEEPEN YOURSELF, in a song of the same title, you'll find yourself swaying to the trance-inducing accompaniment in no time. The hypnotic instrumentals in ADORATION are the warm waters in which Philip's voice ebbs and flows. Im here to tell you.....MALICE is great. I scream, you scream... "I scream, you scream...If you were to scream for a girl, who would you scream for? There's one band that screams for Emily, and for Echo, too(as in Bunnymen), in a smooth, kind of ethereal way. At least that's the way we read SCRIPTURES, the debut six-song EP from SCREAMING FOR EMILY. Their sound is dreary pop, full of hooks and seductive synth washes that have an uncunny knack for getting under your skin. Underneath is a hard, driving beat that keeps the momentum going while holding the eerie atmospherics well in hand. All six tracks on this dark slab of vinyl are equally catchy. SYNTHPOP.NET by Jason Baker Screaming For Emily has been together as a band since 1986, and though this isn't the band's first release, I can't determine for sure whether or not it is the first full-length album. Screaming For Emily is made up by three members, Phillip Sciortino, Lance Redaelli, and Steve Baille. New Wave is a huge influence on the band, but there is also a element of alternative pop that plays into the sound. The album features ten original tracks, and was released on North End Records. Smooth pop is a good description of this band, who bear some sonic similarities with Otherness (another band reviewed here at synthpop.net), but incorporate some slightly better production and some more modern song writing influences in as well. Most of the songs here have a very dark edge to them, in the mold of early New Order or Joy Division material. Most of the songs here fit into the subtly catchy frame of mind, with none of them immediately grabbing your ear, but you'll find yourself returning to "Deity", "Deepen Yourself" and "Agony" multiple times. "Purgatory Embrace" is a song that has a lot of potential to be really good, but the female backing vocals that come in near the end of the track serve to simply irritate me. Overall, this is a impressive album from Screaming For Emily. It's not perfect, and the production is a little on the lo-fi side, but overall it is a very solid album, and one well worth your time and money! GOTHTRONIC.COM-by NIGHTPORTER When I received this CD I was in the misapprehension that Screaming for Emily was a recently founded band. The perfect "retro" sound did arouse suspicion and when I browsed the back of the CD-cover I discovered that these recordings were made in 1987. "Scriptures" is interesting because it gives a snapshot of the relatively small East Coast gothic/new wave scene in the mid to late 80's. Apart from the surge of bands at the end of the 70's/early 80's the inspiration of the American gothic/new wave scene seemed to have largely dried up at that point. The British scene was dominant, simply because the UK bands managed to pour out more interesting and diverse albums. Screaming for Emily confirms that when she states that she drew her musical ideas from bands like Echo and the Bunnymen, The Cure, New order, Joy division, Depeche mode, The sisters of mercy, Bauhaus and Clan of Xymox. For us Dutch it's interesting to read that Clan of Xymox already had an impact on the US gothic scene in those days. "Scriptures" is typically a product of the 80's. It's re-mastered from vinyl but the quality is good enough so there is no real need to worry about that. An unusual feature is the fact that the entire EP is made with synthesizers, except for the percussion. Normally it was the other way around. If this was done on purpose I can't retrieve, but the overall effect is rapturous. The wailing voice of singer Dayson Stesner reminds me very much of that of Gene loves Jezebel's Jay Aston, especially on "Last goodbye". The opening track "The love" proves that Screaming for Emily had a nose for good hooks. It was released as a single and could serve well at current "oldschool" dance floors. The drums are in a so called 'batcave' style: restless, cavernous. This makes the EP more raw and sets Screaming for Emily apart in respect to synth-pop bands. It's a kind of electronic post-punk. "Too late for prayer" is the most overtly "goth" song with it's tubular bells and ringing chains. "Another girl" remotely sounds like Xmal Deutschland whereas the ballad "From your heart" bears resemblance to The Cure's quieter songs. "Scriptures" is recommended for New wave/80's devotees. THE BIG TAKEOVER - Review of "DROP DEAD FESTIVAL" live show.....Sept. 2. 2006 by Kristen Sollee Finally the time came for the most awaited moment of the evening. Gothic cult favorites SCREAMING FOR EMILY emerged from behind the long black veil after a 20-year hiatus. Even though it was near 2:30 in the morning when they took the stage, the crowd really filled in up front in anticipation for their synth-driven songs. Frontman PHILIP SCIORTINO was dressed in an elegant all-white suit, a single cross dangling from his neck, while the rest of the band looked quite daunting in fascistic fashions. They played Deity, Agony, and other choice picks from the past, and, despite the lousy sound system, filled the room with seductive synthscapes capable of bewitching even the blackest of hearts. Sciortino dedicated their underground club hit, ?The Love,? to New York City?s longest-running goth DJ, DJ PATRICK, for keeping their music alive for all these years. While Screaming For Emily?s set soon drew to a close, their reunion was met with much ecstasy and appreciation to have them back on the scene. It really was the perfect way to end yet another enjoyable night of drop-deadery. Chain D.L.K. - "SCRIPTURES" This six song EP is a re-release production recording, which was originally released back in 1987. New Jersey based quartet Screaming For Emily is one of the 80's underground synth-pop bands who started out listening to music like Depeche Mode to The Cure. Then the four good friends formed a band together. Their first debut "Scriptures" fulfills the ghastly nightmares of what underground pop represents could be achievement. The band used some of Depeche Mode music structure technique from "Construction Time Again" to "Some Great Reward" and gave it a more darker twist by adding their own original ideas to it, which is a good combination. Lance Redaelli deadpan vocals is a reminder of Gene Loves Jezebel vocalist, Michael Ashton. Like all 80's new wave bands, they sport a weird hairstyle, but indeed a good looking keyboard all boy band. "Scriptures" is described deep, thought-provoking, cold, and dark. Yes, it's that good. This ep is flawless. Outstanding tracks are "The Love", "Another Girl", and "Just A Lie". Polished with sophistication and inspired. Chain D.L.K.- "MALICE" This intriguing CD grew on me faster than a speeding bullet. New Jersey based Screaming For Emily incorporates elements of new wave and darkwave. Their music is a reminiscence of the 80's with such influences as Depeche Mode, The Cure, Clan of Xymox, Echo & The Bunnymen, Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, Joy Division, New Order, and Sad Lovers & Giants. Similar pretty sounds to other 80's acts as well have the best effect, but Screaming For Emily possess their own charm. The band is made up of three guys who are not really new to the music scene. SFE got their first start back in the 80's and also had released their very first self-titled record. The band is consists of Lance Redaelli-drums & percussion; Phillip Sciortino, Jr.-vocals & keyboards; and Steven Baillie keyboards. Their second release "Malice" will open the portholes of the soul. The passionate and ethereal male vocals, the dreamy soft and warm synth sounds and the guitar and bass strumming gently with a beautiful compassionate lush feel and the pulsating beat from the drum will make you want to dance. Outstanding tracks are "Thorn", "Intent", "Purgatory Embrace", "A Dry Year", and the cool smashing catchy single hit "Deity". Check out the video for that track on their websites. These compositions are full of beauty and create a brightness color in Screaming For Emily. Crafted production lends to the lavish sound of "Malice". |
