IT MAY be many years since he was at his peak, but Marc Almond’s voice remains as evocative now as it was then. And the former Soft Cell singer puts it to good use in this collaboration with Newcastle-born composer John Harle.
The two Ivor Novello 2013-winning artists, use old London as their backdrop for an album that sounds like the soundtrack to a huge stage production.
Almond’s own lyrics sit well alongside works from the likes of poets William Blake and Tom Pickard as we are taken on a tour of some of the capital’s more historical moments, including the infamous Tyburn Tree gallows, Springheeled Jack, The Vampire of Highgate and Jack the Ripper.
Harle’s music, meanwhile, remains very much in the now and provides a powerful, contemporary accompaniment to the rest of the performances. A critical rather than commercial success, it is worth a listen.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here