aaamusic | On 01, Feb 2012

We missed his gravelly, smothering, and growling pitch, not to mention his dark and obsessive lyrics. After the too much overlooked Hawk, third chapter of the as unlikely as well-made collaboration with Isobel Campbell, Blues Funeral is a new milestone in the damned glorious career of Mark Lanegan.

 

The ex-grunge maudit has a long and hyper-prolific story behind his shoulders: fifteen years of Screaming Trees, five with Queens Of The Stone Age, The Gutter Twins’ project with Greg Dulli, his solo career, stints with Soulsavers and The Twilight Singers, and, among many others, the above mentioned teamwork with the former Belle and Sebastian’s muse.

 

Despite the long-winded and never-ending inspiration, the excitement for his new solo album was more than acceptable, considering the 8-years’ wait after the good but here and there repetitive Bubblegum.

 

Forget the acoustic savageness of the previous works. Blues Funeral is eclectic, often off-guarding. Recorded at the 11AD studio with Alain Johannes, this album sees the collaboration of the unfailing Josh Homme (Queens Of The Stone Age/Kyuss), Jack Irons (Pearl Jam/Eleven), and Greg Dulli.

 

Lanegan’s baritone ranges over the boisterously throbbing single The Gravedigger’s Song to the Cash-esque ballad Deep Black Vanishing Train, impressing with the unexpectedly 80s Ode To Sad Disco, where Mark forms an imaginary trio with Andy Bell and Vince Clark.

 

Riot In My House, Harborview Hospital, and Tiny Grain Of Truth project the Ellensburg’s artist into a dimension familiar to the post-Adore Smashing Pumpkins, where Mark doesn’t look bad at all, and makes you think that the contribution of James Iha to Hawk was not a coincidence after all.

 

Blues Funeral will be released via 4AD on February 6^th, followed by a world tour that will reach the UK in March.

 

Lorenzo Coretti