English synthesizer duo, who came to prominence in the early 1980s. They had a huge world-wide hit in 1981 with a cover version of Tainted Love (a northern soul classic originally sung by Gloria Jones), which they followed up with more charting singles and one of the first remix albums (Non-Stop Ecstatic Dancing). Their self-penned non-album single 4349 missed the No.1 spot of the UK charts by a hairbreadth.
The Art Of Falling Apart followed in 1982, produced with Mike Thorne with Dave Ball using the then new CMI Fairlight synthesizer. It spawned 2 singles chosen against the will of the record companies; Where The Heart Is and Numbers ; neither sold too well. The commercial pressure finally collided with their artistic ambitions which led to solo and side projects and two farewell shows in January 1984 even before their 3rd album This Last Night... In Sodom was released. (Their lyrics often focused on love and romance as well as the darker side of life, with subjects such as the nightlife, sex, transvestism, drugs, murder or youthful frustration.)
Almond & Ball reunited in the early 2000's and toured, with a 4th studio album Cruelty Without Beauty following in 2002. Once again they reunited for a final well documented 1583486 live show in 2018 and the recording of a new single. A 5th studio album accompanied by various singles followed in May 2022, with anniversary events and documentations as well as reissues and new recordings & mixes. Dave Ball's death in 2025 most likely means the end of Soft Cell.
