Have you ever wondered what a funk version of Depeche Mode would sound like? Like “Scratch & Dent Blonde.”
The first thing that’s bound to come to mind when listening to Magnum Dopus is how reminiscent the vocals are of Dave Gahan’s signature melancholy. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, you’d be mistaken for thinking that it’s a side project of his that satisfies his penchant for funk, muscular beats, and helicopter guitars.
“Scratch & Dent Blonde,” from the LP Suburbanova, which came out of August 20, 2021, is particularly funk orientated and even carries some shades of another band ― Red Hot Chili Peppers ― in the way the chorus explodes into a high voltage solo with a super catchy rhythm.
“Scratch & Dent Blonde” and Suburbanova as a whole make for very unique juxtapositions between dreamy, melancholic vocals and spacey musical accompaniments on the one hand, and funky, bad-ass vibes on the other.
