This was a great night out in Govanhill, the launch night for Glasgow act Scaramanga’s new single ‘On and On’. The combo might not want to be described as a ‘synthpop duo’, but then actually they probably would!
As with their gig here last year the core members Paul (vocals) and Stephen (keyboards, beats, effects) took the first few tracks themselves and were then supplemented by vocalists Vivian and Suzanne. The music has developed a bit as well, with some work going into recording tracks for a forthcoming album.
BM has in the past compared this lot to Erasure and that still stands, bit there were also hints of old Oakenfold U2 remixes from the early ’90s. It also helps that the band have a solid singer with a charismatic presence (he was wearing his kilt as usual) in Paul, and a new (to BM) spoken word section was very theatrical and showed a slightly different side.
The new single got an airing, as did other new and more familiar tracks – the crowd, slightly reluctant at first, soon started moving and by the end there was quite a bit of dancing – the music and the vocals have an infectious effect.
Local DJ collective Wrong Party (who have a monthly residency here and two of the four who comprise WP were on the decks tonight) then took it away, so to speak, with some funky electronica which again got people on the floor.