Soulsavers – Broken

Mark Lanegan is like some kind of vocal God. Not just because he is remarkably talented, but because he is seemingly omnipotent.Since the dissolution of Screaming Trees, the man has cropped up all over the place and bought life wherever he appears. Without even thinking too hard, it’s possible to list multiple projects that he’s been involved in. Queens of The Stone Age? Isobel Campbell? Gutter Twins? Twilight Singers? Bomb The Bass? Been there and done that. That’s without thinking too hard or mentioning his solo work. It would appear that Mark Lanegan never rests.Soulsavers are yet another Lanegan outlet and although many of his other collaborations have been nothing short of breathtaking, it would appear that his work with them might just be up there with his best.Soulsavers started life as an English remix and electronica duo, featuring Rich Machin and Ian Glover. Broken is their third album, but the second with Lanegan (his first with them was the stunning It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land) and it is a beauty.It’s without Lanegan that they opt to begin the album with 'The Seventh Proof', and it’s an indication of their considerable talents that this piece is affective as anything that features those dulcet tones. A rolling piano motif that recalls Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata gradually develops while strings and wind instruments slowly join the mix to create an incredibly moving piece of gently lilting classical music. The solemn chiming of bells that lie deep in the mix call Lanegan forth for the next track, unsurprisingly entitled 'Death Bells'. A squall of guitar noise, solidly pounding bass underpin that voice that is seemingly carved from a mahogany bar-top weathered by years of absorbing spilt whiskey and burned by the firey tips of several thousand cigarettes.Soulsavers seem to have a habit of collecting some serious talent when it comes to finding collaborators. With Butthole Surfers’s Gibby Haynes having already appeared on 'Death Bells', the fantasy of having Mike Patton (Faith No More/Mr Bungle/Fantomas) coupled with Lanegan becomes a reality with 'Unbalanced Pieces' which finds the pair of them complimenting each other perfectly. Kudos must go to Patton for keeping his performance subtle and allowing the song to breathe fully.'You Will Miss Me When I Burn' is a sombre piano led ballad that is full of longing and sadness. “When you have no-one, no-one can hurt you” drawls Lanegan (singing lyrics written by Will Oldham no less), encouraging the hardiest of listener to get down their local and drown their sorrows with some serious liquor.'All The Way Down' harks back to the stunning gospel/spiritual of 'Revival' from It’s Not How Far You Fall and despite its apparently sombre tone it still manages to be uplifting. Sadness pervades this album, and yet there is something glorious about Soulsavers’ indulgence in those moments that make your heart feel as if it is about to explode. You can find solace in the swelling of the strings. The reverb that drenches certain guitar parts makes you feel as if they’re being played just for you in an empty hall. The soaring gospel vocals that adorn the likes of 'Shadows Fall' suggest that once you’ve hit bottom the only way is up. And in Lanegan, you’ve got a soulmate who will get you through the hard times, because he sounds as if he’s been kicked several times harder than you’ve ever been. Despite the hardships, this album is an enormous sonic comfort blanket.And yet it is the closing two tracks that don’t feature Lanegan that are perhaps the two best moments of the album. The instrumental 'Wiseblood' allows Soulsavers to play their cinematic hand. Once again using established classical music as their starting point (Beethoven, Mozart ”“ all the hits) they build in simple drum patterns and electronic interjections. But it’s the haunting strings that pick at the holes in your being that do the real work. They twist, turn and cascade until they’re sure there’s tear in your eyes, and then, job done they leave you with Red Ghost (Rosa Agostino) to lead you to the album’s conclusion.Her contribution on 'By My Side' is initially jarring, particularly after such an incredible showing from Lanegan, but once you’ve adjusted it becomes perfectly clear that Soulsavers main strength is securing the best performance from their collaborators. Red Ghost’s voice is understated, but there is no doubting the emotion that she brings to the table. No warbling or histrionics are needed, and none are given, just a perfect recital over a smouldering blues infested landscape.Soulsavers might have called this album Broken, but this is the sound of a band that can put all the pieces back together again and stride forward with hope, confidence, and a damn fine bottle of whiskey. 80%Soulsavers on Myspace