Cass McCombs - 'PREfection' (4AD)
4/5
By: Lauren Gallagher
Post-punk? No, bit of Motown in that. Twee pop crossed with a tormented, inebriated soul? Cass McCombs is throwing us for a bit of a loop with this one, albeit a very enjoyable one.
Lucky for Cass, after various releases, including his rich debut LP 'A,' falling on nearly deaf ears, now seems to be a rather popular time for the singer-songwriter. Bright Eyes has been crowned atop the Billboard charts, Rufus Wainwright is finally rising above his previous cult-only status, and erm... Dylan was in a lingerie ad in the States. The solo artist has returned to the public consciousness once again, which will hopefully prove an asset to 'PREfection,' which boasts an elusive quality of coherence amidst variety.
Fuzzy dreamscapes enchant, while Cass's healthy wail rises and falls like love's expectations in shoegazer 'She's Still Suffering.' Morrissey may come to mind in 'Equinox,' a smooth crooning over gentle yet dubious synths. A swinging rhythm section and warm 60's keyboard action steers 'Subtraction,' while 'Cuckoo' lavishes over the keys some more, but in the style of a Motown ballad, Cass's voice draping over the microphone with a gentle fog. 'PREfection's golden track, however, is single 'Sacred Heart.' It somehow maintains an affinity to 'Let It Be' (song, not the album) in its soothing, hymnal quality, but it's done with a distinctly post-punk edge, an up-tempo mourning. Deliciously ironic, bewitching.
The theme continues with the jangle guitar fun of 'Bury Mary,' who not only gets buried, but so do her clothes, and her china. 'Ping-ping goes the shovel!/Pang-pang goes the pail!'; the lyrics might seem twisted, but they're masked in the hip-shaking tune. So Cass offers us a motley mix with 'PREfection,' but the combination of his versatile voice, at times crackling, at times velvety, and talented composition, make for a delightfully harmonic banquet. May you all feast with pleasure.
Artists in this article: Cass McCombs
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