One of the most important contemporary musicians, with plentiful collaborations and participations in wide variety of his colleagues projects has just released his 10th solo studio album titled Gargoyle. The release comes only two and a half years after critically praised Phantom Radio. We are dealing with an unpretentious, urban Americana wrapped up in a specific, obscure aura where blues-rock and post-punk meet modern electronic elements.
Deep, powerful voice sounds like you have just woke the guy up after a wild night full of whiskey and cigarettes. He still has the ability to dictate and change the whole atmosphere on the record. The collection of ten new songs incorporates guest appearances by music masters such as Duke Garwood (four years ago, they dropped a mutual album Black Pudding), Greg Dulli (they collaborated in The Gutter Twins, among other projects) and Josh Homme, his ex colleague from the band Queens of the Stone Age.
Alongside the usual guitar rock sound, Lanegan had never before included so many piano layers, electronic and synthetic rhythm, and the perfect example for it is Blue Blue Sea, a track that radiates a certain Goth vibe. Similar can be noted for Drunk On Destruction, with almost drum ‘n’ base tempo. Sister is a nocturnal ballade with a bit of evil attitude, and Goodbye To Beauty and First Day Of Winter continue in the excact fashion. Although, First Day Of Winter is more warm and placid. Probably the best track on the whole record is the promotional single Nocturne in which guitars and electronic breathe as one, and the unmistakable melody is infected with yearning chorus and characteristic crooner vocal. Emperor resembles the immortal Passenger by Iggy Pop, while Beehive is another successfully realized amalgamation of shoegaze and electro beats. Old Swan offers recursive synth rhythms and takes us back to the 80s electro pop. It brings the album to its closure in a decent manner.
The album Gargoyle is not going to change your lives. It does not represent a milestone in Lanegan’s catalogue, nor does it have the ambition to be that. Still, this is a top-notch release with some killer numbers that stands as an evidence that the 52 year old singer did not lose one piece of his grit and creativity.
