"Simon's Songs are sensational"- by Jon Massey, St Albans Observer, January 27th 2005

"The sensation you get when you listen to a really good album for the first time is of excitement, joy and exhilaration. Despite its irritating title, Simon Scardanelli's first album for ten years, HOBOHEMIA, has already warmed my heart and I've only had it for three days.

When I first opened the jiffy bag and pulled the CD out, I was confronted by an extraordinary looking man. The face that stared back at me from the cover was gaunt, drawn and extremely intriguing. Scardanelli's curious appearance made me most anxious to find out what sort of sounds might emanate from this individual. Most importantly for any work, I like my expectations and preconceptions to be baffled or exceeded. Rarely does a work come along that succeeds in doing both so effectively. This collection of eight songs is like an open wound. Sore and red raw in places the lyrics are stuffed with powerful imagery which, when rendered in Scardanelli's delicious whine, become imbued with melancholy and passion. The subjects touched on include politics, love and homelessness. All are dealt with effectively and in a style which offers comment only through a comparatively unbiased statement of the facts. The listener is invited to make up their own mind rather than being told specifically what to think on an issue. This sort of delicate handling of complex and difficult topics gives the body of songs and the album its flavour.

I had not heard of Scardanelli before this album arrived on my desk but it is clear both from listening to his material and looking at his biography that he has a long history as a songsmith. His work is full of the intricate lyrical turns of phrase present in the songs of writers who have spent a lifetime behind the guitar and pen. Nevertheless, this record sounds remarkably fresh and exciting to me. I suspect this owes more to the fact that its author is currently undertaking a PhD in electro-acoustic composition than the years spent in America both with and without Big Bam Boo with whom he found fame in the 80's. The PhD follows long years of study and sonic research which must, I feel, be the inspiration behind some of the sounds heard here.

The guitar work is consummate in its ease and sounds quite literally perfect to my ear in places; the result I think both of great writing and a real knowledge of how to translate sounds into songs through recording media. I suggest anybody ought to go and buy this album if they have any love of singer-songwriters."
CD REVIEW: Simon Scardanelli - Hobohemia By Ann Klein - 01/25/05 Simon Scardanelli says a lot with an acoustic guitar and incredibly emotive voice. He uses the guitar very well to support his message full of grit and Scardanelli means every word. You really get the feeling that Scardanelli is on a mission to make us aware of what's going on around us. He's got the angry young man thing going on and he definitely requires your attention. I'm sure he grabs your attention at a live show. I'd love to hear him with a band. I like where Scardanelli is coming from. I think he's more than capable of doing something way beyond an acoustic guitar/vocal cd. I visited his website and this guy is into some really cool and interesting stuff. I wish he had combined these songs on "Hobohemia" with some of the soundscapes he's done for other projects. They are a bit strange, but I think if he edited himself a bit in that area and mixed it up with his songs, he'd have something very unique and cool going on. Definitely check out his website.

Please note you can also buy the CD at Simon's gigs for £10.00, or £5 with Student ID.