theaudience – I Got The Wherewithal EP

Sometimes you buy an album because of its cover. First, the name of the band was intriguing: “the” and “audience” were deliberately spelt as one word. Also, the title had “wherewithal,” which instantly made it seem not of this time. Finally, the girl on the cover and the way she posed, forlorn and pensive; I would later learn that she is Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

This was back in 1998. Pre-Murder on the Dancefloor. Pre-Groovejet. Pre-famous.

The album wasn’t a dud. In fact, it was very good–so good that it contained songs that would remain superior to the band’s following full-length debut.

You could call the band “indie,” although they do sound markedly different from anyone then–and perhaps anyone since. A heady mix of musical theatre and Serge Gainsbourg wrapped in new wave guitar.

R.I.Y.L. Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Serge Gainsbourg, Rufus Wainwright

theaudience – I Got The Wherewithal EP

Note: If you have heard of theaudience, you might know of their biggest single, A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed. It exists here in its original version, Ne Jamais Decu, which is sung in French.