Ponderous Poetics
R. J MOSS | Alice Springs, Australia | 01/20/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Leven's coverage of the 60s classic, 'You've Lost That Lovin Feeling' is very impressive. David Thomas lends a cracked harmony to it that is just right. At the opposite end of this CD is,'Morbid Sky'; opposite in every sense of emotion & harmonics. Thomas's Ubu connotations offer, on this track, a new dimension to the notion of displacement within the context of Leven's CD. Hard to take seriously that Leven claims the song(from Thomas's, Mirrorman) as part of one of 'the key recordings of our time'(sleeve notes).Not my time! The real problem on this outing is its pretentious poetic stigma. The writing and musical arrangements are leaden and literal. Leven has a good voice, perfect for crooning lullabyes & lovesick ballads. If you're getting on, like me, think Jim Reeves. More recently, think David Sylvan. But, sorry Jackie, the self importance is written too large, even on the packaging. No amount of hot wind can conceal the weakness of the lyrics. The less said the better."