Search - Marc Almond :: Violent Silence / Woman's Story (Reis)

Intriguing compilation of early works

Kent D. Kelly | Denver, CO USA | 05/03/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While the era of the traumatic breakup of Soft Cell was a painful experience for Almond, it did result in some of his most interesting work. This well-produced CD is a compilation of his 2 earliest solo albums, and although some of the material seems today to be dated or even cacophonic, what works here works very well. Highlights include: Indigo Blue, a great uplifting song with a contagious melody; A Woman's Story, which is one of his most ironic and amusing covers, but still tragic because it's sung with such conviction; A Salty Dog, which features amazing soaring vocals over a sparse, morose background; The Plague, another ferocious and well-scripted cover; For One Moment, perhaps his most beautiful song from the era; Just Good Friends, a sardonic view of relationships that gets better with every listen; Unborn Stillborn, a gothic little number that may well surprise you; and Healthy as Hate, a poetic, haunting piano piece that's sure to disturb. In all, this is worth getting; Marc Almond's sophistication shines through here, promising the better things to come."