Antony and the Johnsons "I Fell in Love With a Dead Boy" Durtro CD 054 2001 (14:16)
I
Fell in Love With a Dead Boy (3:56)
Mysteries
of Love (5:45)
Soft
Black Stars (4:35)
The one and only Antony returns artsy orchestra in tow with a new single, follow-up to last year's wonderful self titled debut, both on Current 93 mastermind David Tibet's Durtro imprint. Here Antony plays piano and is backed by at least seven other experienced players on drums, piano, bass, violins, viola and cello for one new song and two covers. The title track is the new one, a sort of postmortem serenade for the victim of a car accident that Antony witnessed outside his home in New York City. Antony's emotion is especially exuberant as he briefly details the scene and, after a silent break, expresses his impossible love for the departed stranger. Somber piano and strings elegantly highlight the missive as Antony concludes with the repeated query "are you a boy or a girl?" in a steadily rising operatic register. "Mysteries of Love" was penned by director David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti and performed by Julee Cruise in Lynch's "Blue Velvet". Antony gracefully delivers Lynch's love poem over slow and soothing strings and quiet, sustained piano chords. "Soft Black Stars" was the untitled title track of Current 93's 1998 vocal and piano album. The Johnsons dress it up a bit, fleshing the song out with string solos and backing as Antony equals Tibet's dramatics but in more of a sung than spoken manner. Stunning. Absolutely stunning. Here's hoping that a new full length isn't too far off ...
Antony
and the Johnsons
Current 93
Durtro
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Riouxs Records.