After two emotionally raw records that teetered on an endearingly melancholic brink, Seattle-based songwriter Mike Hadreas opted to tinker with the formula for this third outing under his fragrant moniker, Perfume Genius.
While the mode of delivery has evolved, the vivid lyrical imagery of old and the soulful falsetto remain. The sparse, brooding electronica of ‘I’m A Mother’ is the most extreme evidence of this shift, with Hadreas’ vocal pulled out of shape, while ‘My Body’ occupies similarly sinister sonic territory to Portishead’s ‘Third’ (perhaps a nod to Adrian Utley’s involvement in this album’s recording).
The material more than matches the ambition on these 11 bewitching songs.
8/10
Words: Gareth James
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Listen to ‘Too Bright’ via Deezer, below…
