ANTONY AND THE JOHNSONS – SWANLIGHTS
Antony Hegarty took some time to find his place in this world. He came to performing late, and recording even later. But now four albums in, Antony and the Johnsons have defined their own iconoclastic brand of pop music. Swanlights follows on from its predecessor, The Crying Light, and expands and refines Hegarty’s songwriting. The same minimal arrangements, often led but not much more than Hegarty’s piano, are supplemented by a chamber orchestra here – the combination equal parts Kurt Weill and Nina Simon. But the tentative exploration of his earlier work is replaced by a growing confidence in exploring both his inner world, and the natural world around him. Often the lyrics are just repeats, playing on sounds, syllables and accompaniment, there is no hint of overplaying his hand here – the punchy Thank You For Your Love a classic example as it builds to a glorious horn-led crescendo. Then comes the hiccup. Just as we are immersed in Hegarty’s world, thoroughly embracing its nuances, the album throws us Fletta, a duet with Bjork. Now in its own right, this is a beautiful piece. But given the flow of the album, and that Hegarty is more of a backing vocalist than duet partner, this is a false set on an otherwise flawless display from Antony and the Johnsons.
**** 1/2
