Way back in 1981 Soft Cell hit it big with "Tainted Love," one of the first synth pop songs to go nationwide in the wake of such classics as Gary Numan's "Cars" and Human League's "Don't You Want Me?" With electro all the rage once again, Soft Cell's return is prescient, but the duo of Marc Almond and Dave Ball is not coasting. Cruelty Without Beauty is perhaps the most salacious, scathing record to be released all year. Soft Cell still uses the carping synths and house beats of yesteryear, but fuelled by conservatism run amok and corporate globalism contaminating economies and environments, Soft Cell makes music with a malicious glee.

"Monoculture" pounds over a bleak groove, Almond singing "Everything the same/No change, the world has gone insane." He ponders "Why don't I just give up and give in to the great God of bland, all my exotic gestures no longer in demand." If Fast Food Nation didn't make you mad as hell and not gonna take it anymore, "Monoculture" will. From here, we do a grand tour of foul media stars ("Grand Guignol"), delusional pop singers ("Desperate"), a pleasure-obsessed population ("Sensation Nation"), and its power-mad leaders ("Caligula Syndrome"). Soft Cell still works the synth pop that made it famous, the sounds here are the same as they ever were. But with songs full of piss and vinegar, Soft Cell's return is triumphant and toxic.

Soft Cell's fourth studio album was released a full 18 years after the duo's third, This Last Night in Sodom (1984). During those 18 years, both Marc Almond and Dave Ball pursued solo careers with huge success, and occasionally worked together on albums (Marc Almond's wonderful 1990 album, Enchanted), and remix singles. But here, the two are together in full force. Almond's lyrics are among the best he has ever written, especially on the tragic "Whatever It Takes," which seems to be the sequel to their debut single, "Fun City," revisiting the same character 25 years later. It all comes together with brilliant writing and Ball's atmospheric and swelling arrangement of the eerie music. And the music has grown; sure, it sounds like an updated Soft Cell, but the '80s are nowhere in sight. Wisely, this is not a "retro" album with re-recordings of the duo's big hits, but rather a more mature Soft Cell. Overall, the album has a dark, semi-political tone reflecting the late '90s and early '00s. While it is dark, it is also captivating and accessible. Almond's voice is strong and emotive, living and breathing his stories and observations. Autobiographical? Perhaps, but in the end it doesn't matter. The stories are vivid, and the music incredible. The only real shame is that Almond and Ball were not creating music for 18 years, because this album shows the talent and ability of these two writers, and how the times have adapted to them. [This edition features an enhanced bonus CD with three remixes of and the video to "Moonculture."] ~ Aaron Badgley, All Music Guide