Soft Cell - The Art Of Falling Apart Pink & Orange Double Vinyl Giveaway

Soft Cell’s second album, The Art of Falling Apart, remains one of the defining synth-pop releases of the early 1980s. Released in 1983, it followed the huge success of Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret and its global hit ‘Tainted Love’. Rather than repeat that formula, Marc Almond and Dave Ball took a darker, more experimental approach. The album explores themes of identity, disillusionment, and emotional breakdown, framed by dense electronic textures and an unmistakably gothic atmosphere. To mark the reissue, Townsend have one copy of the limited-edition The Art of Falling Apart Pink & Orange Double Vinyl to give away to one winner.

Musically, The Art of Falling Apart captures Soft Cell at a creative high point. The title track builds with hypnotic intensity, ‘Martin’ delivers sharp, horror-inspired energy, and Where the Heart Is offers a rare burst of optimism amid the gloom. Songs like ‘Loving You’, ‘Hating Me’ and ‘Numbers’ highlight the duo’s ability to balance melody with emotional depth, while maintaining a sound that feels both theatrical and modern. The result is an album that pushed the boundaries of what pop music could express at the time.

The record also reflects the pressures the duo faced after sudden international success. Almond and Ball’s rapid rise from Leeds art students to chart-topping artists brought creative tension and fatigue, much of which seeps into the music’s mood and tone. The album’s production is layered and experimental, combining abrasive synth work with moments of surprising tenderness. The Art of Falling Apart ultimately stands as an unfiltered statement from a band determined to evolve beyond pop expectations.

"We got together at the tail-end of punk. I was originally just making music for Marc to do some performance art. He had heard my weird noises and bleeps coming out of the college music room and popped in. I did some music for him, and he then asked me what else I had. So I played him these odd, mutant pop tunes I’d been writing, and he asked if he could sing on them". - Dave Ball

The recent passing of Dave Ball in October 2025 adds a reflective note to revisiting this release. His distinctive electronic soundscapes and production style were central to Soft Cell’s identity and to the development of 1980s synth-pop. Ball’s work remains influential, and this album is a clear example of his innovative approach to electronic music. - This reissue is freshly remastered by Barry Grint from the original tapes and shows off the feted duo's harder take on pop music in all its darkly textured and gothic-tinged glory.

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Enter the Townsend Giveaway to be in with the chance of winning The Art of Falling Apart Pink & Orange Double Vinyl

The winner will be chosen and contacted on Monday, 24th November, 2025.

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