SOFT CELL release ballad “Rainbow Room” set in Early ’80s NYC

A Stunning Ballad Set In Early ’80s NYC
Taken from Final Album

Out Sept. 25th via Republic of Music

All majestic vocals from Marc Almond
And epic ravey synths from Dave Ball

On Tour in the U.S. This Fall!

SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 [New York, NY] — Electronic music legends SOFT CELL, a.k.a. singer and frontman Marc Almond and multi-instrumentalist and producer Dave Ball, have released “The Rainbow Room,” a moving ballad set in early 80s New York and taken from the forthcoming new album Danceteria. This will be Soft Cell’s sixth and final studio album, set for release in two weeks’ time on September 25, 2026 via Republic of Music.

Released digitally on all platforms today, “The Rainbow Room” is a stunning atmospheric electronic song paying homage to love, loss and friendship, all wrapped up in an extraordinary moment with vistas to match. You can hear the track at the link above. Marc talks about the semi-autobiographical nature of ‘The Rainbow Room, taken from August’s cover feature interview with John Earls at Classic Pop:

“And I did celebrate my birthday – my 21st or 22nd – at The Rainbow Room in the Rockefeller Center… The story of that view is true, too, I really did think: “Imagine falling down there” at the time. It was important to mention the Twin Towers, to acknowledge that this song about the future had a poignancy to it, knowing how dark that future would become.”

“The Rainbow Room” continues to showcase the heavier, moodier side of forthcoming new album ‘Danceteria’, following on from the previous track “The Space Inside“ and its majestic vocals from Marc Almond and epic ravey synths from Dave Ball.

Watch the bombastic, vibrant videos for second single “In Heaven (When I Dance With You)“ and first single “Danceteria,” all created by Vicki Bennett.

Danceteria is a big, classy and playful farewell to 47 years of Marc and Dave making music as Soft Cell and features career-defining performances from our electronic pop legends. The record is rightly picking up a lot of press acclaim, including the recent five page exclusive interview for the UK’s The Sunday Times Magazine and an extensive cover feature for September’s Electronic Sound covering 16 pages and offering a covermount exclusive 7″ single.

Reminiscent of Sparks, Pet Shop Boys and with lyrics Lady Gaga would kill for, ‘Danceteria’ takes you on a vivid journey through a day in early 80s New York, bouncing round the clock from night to bleary daybreak and headlong back into the club. The 12-track album is available to pre-order now on vinyl and CD, with the CD expanding to 14 tracks including 2 bonus tracks in form of “Crackland” and “What Is Your Morality.”

The Sunday Times opening double page spread featuring Marc Almond photographed by Dean Belcher 8/16/26

Marc provides a snapshot into the album:

“Danceteria is a love letter to New York in the early 80s.  The time we spent in New York – where we recorded our first 3 albums – shaped us both as artists and people. To celebrate this period is a fitting farewell to Dave Ball and the final Soft Cell studio album.”

Equally a tribute to the late, great Dave Ball who unfortunately passed away on October 22, 2025, Danceteria is one of the last bodies of work Ball co-wrote and produced before his death. Almond led the obituaries, describing Dave as a “brilliant musical genius”. The world’s media followed, hailing him as an electronic music pioneer, plus music stars including Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe from the Pet Shop Boys, Mute Records’ Daniel Miller, Cabaret Voltaire and Richard Norris from Dave’s techno duo The Grid contributing an outpouring of elegiac praise. Dave finished Danceteria two days before he passed away and it is in full tribute to him that the album release went ahead as planned.

“There can be no more recordings of Soft Cell without Dave, it would not be possible,” explained Almond. “The sad reality is that Dave Ball was half of Soft Cell, and live work aside, I can’t write Soft Cell songs without him.”

Soft Cell and Marc Almond live dates
Marc Almond has announced another live run, this time in South America in late November to December. Prior to that, Marc will be playing more European shows in Italy and Poland from late September to October. In early November, Marc returns to the States for a second time this year and will be touring as Soft Cell. All kicks off on November 8th in San Diego and takes in Darker Waves festival in California on November 14th. Please check out the full listings and ticket links here.