Highlights: Goddess, Domina, Beyond Good And Evil, Streets Of West Memphis
If you thought Nick Cave
& The Bad Seeds’ latest was a little too soft, you might want to hear the
latest album by this Australian band.
And that, mind you, is not a vain reference limited to geography and cheerless band
names. Back in the 80’s people like Mick Harvey and Rowland S. Howard used to
play for Crime & The City Solution, which should give you some general idea
of what you might expect from American
Twilight. Particularly if I tell you that the singing of the band’s vocalist
(Simon Bonney) is not unlike that of a significantly more dramatic, powerful
Mick Harvey.
Dark (don’t you hate the
word?), intense stuff. “Goddess” is a perfect opener: pounding, assertive,
anthemic. “Riven Man” is one catchy, repetitive groove that works. “My Love
Takes Me There” is another song here that contrasts instrumental heaviness with
a perfectly lovely melody. “Domina” is a slow-burning (as in burning), highly addictive epic. “The
Colonel” with its edgy, ragged guitars/drum arrangement is maddening yet
effective. “Beyond Good End Evil” is a truly Cave-esque ballad, beautiful and
passionate. “American Twilight”, however, crash lands as soon as it starts: the
opening is unnecessarily pedestrian and dumb, as is the actual song. Sadly. But
who cares when we finish with the album’s finest song, “Streets Of West Memphis”,
that with its violin, haunting melody and female vocals reaches absolutely
beguiling heights.
Which means that other
than the unfortunate title track, there’s nothing wrong about American Twilight. The whole thing
sounds like one powerful, riveting epic. Dark, yes, but glorious. I can’t
recommend it enough.
8/10
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