FIRST UTTERANCE

There is one word with which i can summarise "First Utterance", and that is "intense". Everything about it is intense. The lyrics are brutal, grotesque and Roger Woottons delivery of them gives an almost too vivid sensation of the madness and vulgarity they contain. He is really like nothing i have ever heard before, or probably will again. Not for everyone, i realise, but the intensity with which he screams the line "Comus rape, comus break, sweet young virgin's virtue take" sends shivers down my spine like nothing else.

The music is also breathtaking. Literally. Rythmic acoustic guitar, stressing violin, marching hand drums, and a flute floating above the chaosm it all adds up to a very intense listening experiende. I almost feel exhausted after listening to "First Utterance". Even the softer "The herald" is very intensely beautiful and the stretched vocals of Bobbie Watson gives even my ears a tough match at times.

The bonus tracks on the "Song to Comus" are all great as well, and if i could, i would take out The Herald out of the original and replace it with "In the lost Queens eyes" and "Winter is a coloured bird", but since you can't have it all, i will have to live with "The Herald" in place, even though i tend to think it fits in rather badly among the other songs.

For those of you with a leaning towards the more grotesque, this is the album for you. I simply can not recommend it warmly enough. For those who are easily offended, however.. let the sleeve be your warning.