In truth, I had prepared to write about Rag N Bone Man’s new LP, Life By Misadventure, but that would have been the safe...obvious recommendation.
Fitting, then, that that album is also safe and obvious, a record way below the talents at Rory Graham’s disposal, an album for fans of the KOL’s recent output and likely gifted for birthdays and new year.
Far from safe and obvious is Marianne Faithfull’s collaboration with long time Nick Cave cohort Warren Ellis.
She Walks In Beauty is a series of spoken word poems voiced by Faithfull and backed by Ellis’ lush orchestrations (Cave himself pops up here and there and Brian Eno adds his trademark ambient sonics as Vincent Ségal’s sublime cello rounds things out).
A spoken word album is not always top of people’s lists and certainly would not soundtrack a gym session, however, stick this on while taking a sunset walk and the imagery starts to take shape.
Shelley’s “Ozymandias” is devastating when delivered in this form, Ellis’ production giving enough space for the words to speak louder than the actions.
Though these texts are well known, having served as touchpoint for many an aspiring poet, as delivered by Faithfull, they are given a new lease of life.
Faithfull ‘almost died’ from Covid-19 in 2020 and has been open about how the long-form effects are making life hard for the one-time party girl. In fact, this record was almost completed under the auspices of Head (producer of much of PJ Harvey’s output) before Faithfull was forced to take a prolonged break.
It is a wholly moving collection, and one that, if catching the listener at a sensitive point in time, can illicit the odd sigh or tear.
This editor had the pleasure of interviewing Faithfull a few years ago for a different publication, she was bright, funny, caring, none of that has appeared to have changed, since her brush with death and her worn voice is a terrific accompaniment to the gorgeous music and classic wordsmithery also on display.
True, a 12-minute rendition of Tennyson’s “The Lady of Shallott,” may well stretch the patience of the more casual listener but as an alternative to the iodine playlists of the po-faced pop performers proliferating the charts, this really is superior listening.
She Walks In Beauty is available to buy and stream now.
