Laments are this band’s priority. There is a lot of Nick Cave at times (Misery and the title track owe a lot to Murder Ballads), but if handled well, that is always a good thing.
Laments are this band’s priority. There is a lot of Nick Cave at times (Misery and the title track owe a lot to Murder Ballads), but if handled well, that is always a good thing.
Majestic Scene – Swinging in a Perfect Pose
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A surprising LP and a rewarding, ‘mature’ listen. Once you get over the resemblance in the vocal line to Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush’s Don’t Give Up, the swing of Black Water is seductive indeed. The song is a good indication of what is in store elsewhere; it isn’t too syrupy, and there’s enough light and shade throughout to keep things tense. Following track Perfect Mother is a brilliant slow burner, a slow determined song that just keeps coming back to hand out one more lesson…
Laments are this band’s priority. There is a lot of Nick Cave at times (Misery and the title track owe a lot to Murder Ballads), but if handled well, that is always a good thing. Actually Misery is a great song. The band thinks so too, so much so that they do it twice on the LP, (the second version being an up-tempo stomp). And the production never gets to gloopy, preferring to concentrate on the band’s subtle arrangements and brilliant use of pedal steel, (check out The End Will Soon Be Here). And the band’s staying power is something to behold on behemoth tracks like Dog’s Lament and the appropriately titled Waiting.
Pleasantly surprised.