Swan Song With A Taste Of Lavender
Damon L. Jacobs | Brooklyn, NY | 07/14/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"How could it be that Variete has been out for weeks and NO one has written a review on American Amazon? It's a sad state of affairs for Marc Almond's self-proclaimed swan song album, and arguably one of his finest and pensive works ever.
All the classic Almond elements are here. Tragic drag queens with running eye-liner smiling through their tears? Check. Dramatic declarations of lost souls triumphing over adversity? Check. Jazzy cabaret beats and Latin guitars underlying smoky torch songs? All here. But what's different on Almond's first album of new material in over ten years is the psychological gravitas that abides in his work. The world has changed a lot since 1999, and Almond painfully perceives himself as being old and obsolete, while ironically contemplating a new thirst for life following his nearly fatal motorcycle crash in 2004. The chilling lyrics in "But Not Today" illustrate the juxtaposition of celebrating survival while cognizant of how close death hovers to all.
Keep in mind, I personally prefer the more glam-rock overblown side to Almond that he displayed on Tenement Symphony (1991) and Fantastic Star (1996). Yet I am astounded at how far he goes in his pensive reflection in these songs, and how his lyrics reveal new emotional and spiritual depth. Without a doubt, this is his most personal and revealing work yet, and is not to be missed by anyone who has ever enjoyed snapping along to any one of his solo songs, or Soft Cell recordings.
My hope is that Almond opts to re-invent himself either in a new band or as a career lyricist (a la Linda Perry). One thing for certain, this artist's swan song is playing way too soon."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1