release date: Oct. 10, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Pascal Gabriel
label: Beggars Banquet - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Mirror to My Woman's Mind" - 2. "Subway" - 3. "Gliding Like a Whale" - 6. "I'll Fall With Your Knife" (4,5 / 5) (live session) - 7. "The Scarlet Thing in You" - 8. "Wild Birds Flock to Me"
5th studio album by Peter Murphy following 3½ years after Holy Smoke (Apr. 1992), which saw him attempt more up-tempo and at times more mainstream compositions. Here, I think, producer Pascal Gabriel, who previously worked with Kitchens of Distinction (and later on productions for Goldfrapp, Marina and the Diamonds, and Bebel Gilberto), helps by adding a certain lightness and clearness to the album without losing the sense of alternative rock of it. Once again, but also for the last time in a decade, Paul Statham has co-written most of the songs with Murphy, who has made a slight turn towards deeper and more thoughtful compositions, which often works well with his dark and gloomy vocal. The album also stands as Murphy's final on the Beggars Banquet label.
The end result is a collection of songs that sound emotionally sincere without distinct post-punk and more low key gothic rock references. The album contains some really fine tracks and also a few mediocre ones with "I'll Fall With Your Knife" as a stand out and one of his absolute best songs ever. The fine "The Scarlet Thing in You" was chosen as single release.
All in all, I think this betters his '92 album and basically lands as his so far third best solo since his fine Love Hysteria and the fascinating debut..
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
