When Scritti Politti released Cupid and psyche 85 in June 1985, it marked one of the most fascinating stylistic pivots in British music history. Frontman Green Gartside had started out making gritty, lo-fi post-punk in squats, but by the mid-eighties, he became obsessed with the pristine, mechanical perfection of American pop and R&B. This second studio album is the glorious result of that obsession - a polished, high-tech masterpiece where Gartside purposefully chose to conquer the mainstream, proving that hyper-intelligent art-pop could easily compete with the biggest chart-toppers of the day.

The overall sonic landscape is an incredible explosion of synth-pop, electro-funk, and sophisti-pop. Recorded with top-tier New York session musicians, the album completely maximises the cutting-edge studio technology of the era, resulting in a sound that is impossibly crisp, tightly sequenced, and brilliantly sequenced. It features hyper-precise drum programming, slap-bass grooves, and sparkling synthesizers, all topped off by Gartside's sweet, airy falsetto. It is an intricate, glossy style that feels incredibly vibrant and energetic - a unique brand of intellectual dance music that managing to sound expensive, sleek, and soulful all at once.

The tracklist is absolute gold, boasting stellar singles like Wood beez (pray like Aretha Franklin) and Absolute, which pair irresistible funk grooves with dizzying melodic layers. Meanwhile, the effortless reggae sway of The word girl and the infectious rhythm of Perfect way showcase the band at the absolute peak of their songwriting powers. Decades later, Cupid and psyche 85 is still an absolute joy to revisit because it is a masterclass in meticulous studio craft. It remains a fascinating, fun time capsule that proves how thrillingly ambitious pop music can be when treated as genuine art.