Melancholy moments
Pieter | Johannesburg | 07/22/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This bleak album opens with the meandering dirge The Holy Hour and from there, things just get more depressing. Even the uptempo Primary which was a hit single, is full of angst though not devoid of charm with its chugging rhythms.
The wail of despair resumes in Other Voices, whilst All Cats Are Grey is less claustrophobic with a slow undulating texture creating a more spacious feel. As the title suggests, The Funeral Party is indeed funereal but its saving grace is an awesome melody line. This song would have made Nico of the VU proud.
Doubt is fairly typical Cure faire whilst some impressive guitar work makes The Drowning Man palatable despite the doom and gloom. This seminal Gothic album concludes with the title track, a slow, brooding number with dreamy vocals, a resigned and world-weary end to the relentless misery."