Antony and the Johnsons - <i>Swanlights</i> album cover. Photo / Supplied
Antony and the Johnsons - <i>Swanlights</i> album cover. Photo / Supplied
Rating: 3/5
Verdict: The difficult instalment from the arthouse favourite.
This fourth album by Antony confirms what many already suspect, that a little of this divine, sublime voice can go a long way. All that high drama and quivering vocals, the allusive lyrics, the symphonic strings ... It's all high-wire emotionand, as with Rufus Wainwright's All Days Are Nights, over the long haul it becomes demanding and undifferentiated.
To his credit, however, Antony appreciates that and mixes things up a little here: the gentle Great White Ocean is close enough to a simple, understated pop ballad; there are backwards guitars and a discordant intro on the fascinating, ambient and slightly-delic title track; Ghost is dramatically underpinned by a minimalist-like piano figure; and the final seven minute-plus Christina's Farm is a heart-stopping reverie over gentle piano which refers back to
many of the lyrical themes.
But Thank You For Your Love is a repetitive stab at soul (he's no Al Green), the duet with Bjork on Fletta is shapeless art music, and Salt Silver Oxygen is like an adolescent poem set to a monotonous vocal line propped up by orchestration.
There's a theme of environmental concern apparently (he's published a 144-page book of his art and writing as a special edition) but that's hard to discern - although themes of death, passing and dream-states are evident.
Small and selective doses rather than a large gulp.
