Orpheus In Exile Sees Marc Almond at His Very Best!
Paul F. Ramey | Jacksonville, FL USA | 09/27/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you live in the United States, chances a better than not that the last thing you heard from Marc Almond was via Soft Cell, who gave us that wonderful early 80s technopop masterpiece: their splendid cover of "Tainted Love." However, if that's all you know of Marc then you've missed out on one of the more ecclectic, misunderstood, dynamic solo careers in music today. The last 30 years may not have been kind to Marc Almond if you judge his work only by top ten smash hits (although he did have a number one in the UK with 1987's "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart"), but Marc has nonetheless been very kind to his loyal fans, giving them a steady stream of romantic, dynamic, works that span a rainbow of delicious, exotic genres.
"Orpheus In Exile: Songs of Vadim Kozin" is the newest bold brushstroke on his ever-expanding musical canvas. "Orpheus" is actually the second of Almond's forays into the Russian musical landscape, the first being his recent "Heart On Snow" album. But where "Heart On Snow" provided a wonderful overview of beloved songs from that country, "Orpheus" narrows the focus on "Russian Orpheus" Vadin Kozin, a singer/songwriter who, though immensely popular in his day, was largely swept away in Stalinist paranoia and general homophobia of the early 20th Century, to be largely lost in the fraying edges of an evolving Soviet state.
I absolutely love this album! Those familiar with Maurice Jarre's classic "Doctor Zhivago" soundtrack will be delighted to find similar textures: snow-laced gypsy strings and aching accordians which, from the first note, transport the listener into the forgotten Russian-edged French Chanson style of music. .
The album starter, "Boulevards Of Magadan," whispers of the dark ache of being captive in a faraway cold land, with only a longing for distant Paris feuling the soul (Kozim would know; he was himself imprisoned in a gulog in far away Magadan for many years). From there Marc hand-picks songs of love and passion: the up-tempo "Forgotten Tango," the sad farewell of "My Fire," the violin-laced "I Love So Much To Look Into Your Eyes," "Friendship" and "Brave Boy" make no mistake as to the depth of Kozim's desires. Sweetly veiled yet equally overt at times, Marc's selection does much to bring Kozin out of the closet of yesterday to reveal what must be considered Russia's first gay icon.
The most devestating number, however, must be "Beggar," the sad story of the life of an old beggar woman on the streets. Once an enchantouse with "beauty staggering", she is now lost forever to advanced age and destitute poverty. Followed by the painful but sweet "When Youth Becomes A Memory," one can be sure that Marc's contemplations on the changes that come with age are very personal. And, yes, if anyone remembers the song "Youth" from Soft Cell's very first album, these selections can be especially poignant!
Orpheus is a grand gesture from Marc: he has never been in better vocal form, and his reserved, subtle stylings hit just the right flavour to match the exquisite orchestral arrangings by collaborator Alexei Fedorov. And by the way, it's worth noting that "Orpheus" also features some of the most beautiful CD packaging I've seen in a long time. The cover art is what I would describe as a turn-of-the-century poster lithograph, with minimal colors which are slightly offset from each other to create the illusion of a quickly manufactured concert poster. It's bold and dramatic and very Russian, it captures well what awaits inside.
For someone like Marc, who has made no pretense of his love and fascination of fame and image, there's no mistaking who the real star of this album is - Vadim shines through on every song, and I give great credit to Marc that he does not get in the way of his subject matter. It's a delicate line, and Marc proves to be a surprisingly sublime master. It's a very long way indeed from the often over-the-top Jacques Brel covers of old!
"Orpheus In Exile" is clearly a labour of love. It's a sublime album that captures the soul of a man much loved in his day, eventually forgotten to most, blacklisted because of his passions, but prolific until the end. As such Vadim Kozin can well be considered a perfect reflection of Marc."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1