The Decemberists - Perfect Crime 2 (Rough Trade)
3/5
By: Liam Manley
The most striking thing about the latest single from last year's otherwise superb 'The Crane Wife' is that, with its regulation indie-dance high-in-the-mix hi-hats, funkily slapped Rhodes pianos and Santana-esque middle 8 break, how strange it sounds taken out of context of the rest of the album.
What with Colin Meloy's continuing reliance on 19th century vernacular, obscure adjectives and the album's concept based on a Chinese folk tale, this new direction seemed even more out of place next to the their usual jangling Celtic folk-based approach, making it an even odder choice of single, albeit edited here for radio play.
As incongruous with The Decemberists' work as its original recording may have been, the big name remixes do it even less service, with both Diplo and Junior Boys taking snatches of the repeated title and every so often laying it down over their own beyond loose interpretations; The former supplying a strict 4/4 beat and late-80's Ibiza rave keys and the latter's contribution even sparser so, making it appear a fairly effortless afternoon's work for both.
As affected as Meloy's delivery may sometimes seem, and this creative misstep aside, he has a rare talent for storytelling and character, making it worth ignoring this download-only single and picking up 'The Crane Wife' in whole.
Stream 'The Perfect Crime #2' HERE.
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