Artist: Adrian H. And The Wounds
Title: Dog Solitude
Genre: Darkwave / Alternative / Gothic / Rock
Release Date: 18th November 2011
Label: Danse Macabre
Album Review
ADRIAN H. AND THE WOUNDS are your post-Goth storytellers. ADRIAN H. emerged from Texas and soon moved to northwest of USA, namely Portland in Oregon, to realise his vision together with THE WOUNDS. The immediate reference of their dark, brooding music with lyrics of great narrative power and poetic bent draw to mind references such as NICK CAVE, LEONARD COHEN, TOM WAITS, LOU REED, but they are eclectic enough to keep on with this referencing further on and it would be better and more exact just to say that they’ve blended and absorbed all and out came their own superb style, or rather a fusion of them. After a self-titled debut their sophomore full-length is here to depict ‘Dog Solitude’.
Let me get the criticism out of the table here on the onset of the review - even if the sound is meant to be dirty and rugged, I would have liked for it to be clearer at times. That’s the only thing that swept a full rating out.
The songs as stories in a film noir style are told in a smoky joint, they are populated by characters at the edge of society, broken and yet more whole than its shining citizens. You might get to think of NICK CAVE’s ‘Murder Ballads’ but these men and women are not shown as sinners but all rounded human beings condemned to life as it is without the need for redemption. More ‘real’ if you like, observed by your modern day and more mature Bukowski who chucked away the excess bullshit and got to the point. ‘Memory’ is a brilliant introductory track, not only because it gives you a flavour of what is to come, but ADRIAN H. unveils it so in his passionate, expressive voice in a way that creates a rapport with the listener. You’re not just listening to an album, but you’re transported to their live show, which in turn is a theatrical show as well.
‘That Hurts’ is one that is a good representative of the film noir feel together with a great eclectic fusion of styles. ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’ will justifiably take you back to Mary Poppins, you’ll hear a clever twist (both musically and lyrically) on that tune for sure! ‘What She Wants’ is your dark ballad, with a slightly sleepy atmosphere, as if in a backwater Southern town. ‘The Night My Mother Screamed’ is the highlight of the album for me, one that commands returns to it many times over, the cleaner sound of the piano layered with atmosphere, and the intensity in the narrative make it stand out immediately. Another commendable element is the sax in many songs, not given on a ‘show off’ point, but subtly underlining their dark velvety underground nature.
The album closes with two remixes - Crooked Stick (Entium Mix) throws in a Metal riff and underlines heaviness and grit into their unique blend, not to mention its wicked and unusual underlying rhythm. It’s a favourite from the two; the second ‘Cookies and Cocaine (Crackolate Chip Mix)’ is more a clubby remix that with its theme is slightly disorienting, as it should be. ‘Dog Solitude’ is as mesmerising as is their live performance; a damned shame to be missed out on, so please don’t! ADRIAN H. AND THE WOUNDS are to be watched out for!!!
Tracklist
Memory – 5.51
That Hurts – 4.31
Hoist That Rag – 4.02
Dog Solitude – 4.19
Chim Chim Cher-ee – 3.05
Nasty – 4.08
What She Wants – 3.50
Bad Man – 6.49
The Night My Mother Screamed - 3.49
Border Patrol – 5.37
Crooked Stick (Entium Mix) – 4.33
Cookies and Cocaine (Crackolate Chip Mix) – 4.12
Line-up
Adrian H. – vocals, keyboards, lyrics, songwriting
The Raptor – saxophone
Special K – keyboards
Shiggy – guitars
Broken Heart – drums, percussions
Websites
http://www.adrianhandthewounds.com / http://www.myspace.com/adrianhmusic
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 9
Total: 9.5 /10
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